Native name 大村 智 Name Satoshi Omura Nationality Japanese Siblings Taizo Omura | Fields Biochemistry Role Biochemist Children Ikuyo Omura | |
Born 12 July 1935 (age 88)
Nirasaki, Yamanashi, Japan ( 1935-07-12 ) Institutions Kitasato University
Wesleyan University Alma mater University of Yamanashi
Tokyo University of Science (M.S., Sc. D.)
University of Tokyo (Ph.D.) Academic advisors Koji Nakanishi
Max Tishler Known for Avermectin and Ivermectin Education University of Tokyo, University of Yamanashi, Tokyo University of Science Awards Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, The Canada Gairdner Global Health Award Similar People Tu Youyou, Takaaki Kajita, Kitasato Shibasaburo, William C Campbell, Shinya Yamanaka |
Satoshi mura nobel lecture a splendid gift from the earth the origins impact of avermectin
Satoshi Ōmura [satoɕi oːmu͍ɽa] (大村 智, Ōmura Satoshi, born 12 July 1935) is a Japanese biochemist. He is known for the discovery and development of various pharmaceuticals originally occurring in microorganisms. In 2015, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with William C. Campbell and Tu Youyou.
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Portrait of a nobel laureate satoshi mura 2015 nobel prize in physiology or medicine
Early life and education
Satoshi Ōmura was born in Nirasaki, Yamanashi, Japan, in 1935, the second son of Ōmura family. After graduating from the University of Yamanashi in 1958, he was appointed to science teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Sumida Tech High School. In 1960, he became an auditor of Koji Nakanishi at Tokyo University of Education, one year later, he enrolled in the Tokyo University of Science (TUS) and studied sciences. Ōmura received his M.S. degree from TUS and his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Tokyo and a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the TUS.
Career
Satoshi Ōmura is professor emeritus at Kitasato University and Max Tishler Professor of Chemistry at Wesleyan University. He is known for the discovery and development of various pharmaceuticals originally occurring in microorganisms. He was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with William C. Campbell and Tu Youyou for discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites. More precisely, his research group isolated a strain of Streptomyces avermitilis that produce the anti-parasitical compound avermectin. Campbell later acquired these bacteria and developed the derived drug ivermectin that is today used against river blindness, lymphatic filariasis and other parasitic infections.
Major contributions
Satoshi Ōmura discoveries more than 480 new compounds in past forty-five years, there are 25 kinds of drugs and reagents in use.