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Friday, 8 April 2016

Happy anniversary helicobacter!

Saturday 9 April 2016 marks the 34th anniversary of the first positive helicobacter biopsy. Professor Barry Marshall with Professor Robin Warren showed that Helicobacter pylori is the main cause of stomach and duodenal ulcers. This discovery was the first step in developing more effective treatments for ulcers and in understanding the causative link between H. pylori and stomach cancer. In 2005, Prof Marshall and Prof Warren were awarded the world’s highest honour in science - the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology

In 1997 Professor Barry Marshall established the Helicobacter Research Laboratory at the QEII Medical Centre Research Laboratory to study this organism. With over 30 years of experience, the Helicobacter Research Group is at the forefront of studying Australia’s highest profile microbe and the world’s most common infection. With gastric cancer causing 1,100 deaths per year in Australia and antibiotic resistant strains on the rise, more work is needed to eradicate H.pylori. This public health issue is magnified in Asia where virulent strains are common, leading to frightening rates of gastric cancer.

The Helicobacter Pylori Research Group is taking up the challenge to develop new diagnostics and treatments to target H. pylori across the globe.  The new technology and approaches used by Professor Marshall’s research team to develop better diagnostics for H.pylori is also applicable to other bacteria and the fight against superbugs.

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David Stacey UWA Media Manager +61 8 6488 3229

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