Nobel-winning scientist Dr William Campbell to receive Tip O'Neill Diaspora Award

Nobel Prize winning scientist Dr William C Campbell is among those year’s Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award recipients.

Donegal County Council has announced that Dr Campbell, a native of Ramelton, as a recipient.

The 2023 Tip O’Neil Irish Diaspora Awards ceremony will take place at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana on Saturday, September 16.

The Council say the award will celebrate Dr Campbell’s ‘extraordinary journey from Co. Donegal to international acclaim’.

Born and raised in Ramelton, Dr Campbell's deep and life-long connection to this scenic region has been a guiding force throughout his life. His early education and formative years in Donegal provided the foundation for his remarkable career in the field of parasitology and is a source of great pride for the local community.

His unwavering commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and scientific excellence propelled him to further his education and research in the United States.

Dr. Campbell's ground-breaking work in the field of parasitology led to significant advancements in the treatment of parasitic diseases, earning him worldwide recognition.

Dr. Campbell's list of accolades is as impressive as it is extensive, and includes six Honorary Doctorates of Science and the prestigious Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2015, which he shared with his colleagues for their revolutionary discoveries in parasitology.

His work in the development of a ground-breaking treatment for the eradication of river blindness (which is the second-leading cause of blindness worldwide before the 1980s) has had a profound impact on millions of lives in Africa, Latin America, and other regions where the disease is prevalent. This life-changing achievement showcases Dr. Campbell's dedication to making a positive difference in the world through his scientific endeavours.

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Campbell has remained deeply committed to education and mentoring the next generation of scientists. He has served as a source of inspiration for countless students, including last year’s Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora awardee Dr. Susan K. Whoriskey, instilling in them a relentless passion for scientific inquiry and discovery, and a dedication to tackling global health challenges.