Our News Bureau – Mumbai
Professor Peter Charles Doherty, 1996 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine recently visited Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore. Professor Doherty addressed students and staff at the IISc, entitled ‘Science Protects Humanity: Adventures in Infection and Immunity’, was just one component of the two-day programme of events that marked the AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative’s first visit to India.
During his visit, Professor Doherty spoke at both the IISc and the AstraZeneca facility in Bangalore. Speaking about his visit, Professor Doherty said, “I’m delighted to have participated in the AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative’s first event in India. My lectures focused on some of the issues and problems facing infectious disease research, how science-based solutions could inform social policy, and what the future might hold for therapeutics and vaccines.”
The AstraZeneca Nobel Medicine Initiative is a global cooperation to bring the inspiring achievements of Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine to the attention of a worldwide audience. The goal of the initiative is to inspire the scientific community and others by sharing information on Nobel Prize awarded achievements and demonstrating how such discoveries are critical to advancing our understanding of how the human body works.
Peter Doherty and fellow recipient Rolf Zinkernagel were awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of how the immune system recognises virus-infected cells. Findings from their research have, in turn, laid the foundation for understanding the general mechanisms used by the cellular immune system to recognise both foreign microorganisms and the body’s own molecules, making their work highly relevant to clinical medicine.
“Professor Doherty’s work in infection resonates strongly with us at AstraZeneca. In particular, an important part of our R&D efforts in Bangalore are focused on tuberculosis (TB) where we collaborate with local and global partners in the development of medicines to treat this disease in both its drug sensitive and drug resistant forms,” said Dr Manos Perros, Vice President and Head of AstraZeneca’s Infection Innovative Medicines Unit.
Dr Sudhir Nambiar, Vice President R&D Bangalore, AstraZeneca added, “As a global, innovation-driven and research-based company, we greatly value the spirit of innovation and collaboration. We are delighted to collaborate with Nobel Media and the Indian Institute of Science to give students and researchers the chance to communicate with Professor Doherty directly, thereby spreading the principles of innovation.”
“At AstraZeneca we believe that the world-class scientific talents in India and across Asia are set to become leaders of innovation in medical science. The AstraZeneca Nobel Media Initiative provides an excellent platform for some of that talent to learn from the experiences of Nobel Laureates like Professor Doherty. Hopefully, it will motivate them to accelerate their efforts and enhance their interest in innovation,” said Dr Steve Yang, Vice President and Head of R&D for Asia & Emerging Markets, AstraZeneca.
