Nobel Laureate’s life achievements celebrated

Nobel Laureate, Dr John Robin Warren AC, has passed away aged 87.

Dr Warren was born in Adelaide in 1937 and received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Adelaide in 1961.

After training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, he was admitted to the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia in 1967.

He then became a senior pathologist at the Royal Perth Hospital, a role he held until retirement in 1997.

The University of Adelaide’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor, Peter Høj AC paid tribute to Dr Warren’s achievements.

“Dr Robin Warren’s work changed the lives and health outcomes of many people, resulting in a significant reduction in the prevalence of gastric cancers ,” said Professor Høj.

“His excellence in his field is testament to his hard work, and we are proud to call him an alumnus of the University of Adelaide”

Dr Warren is credited with the 1979 re-discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, with follow up during the next two years showcasing the bacteria were frequently present only on gastric-type epithelium, and were closely linked to a specific variety of gastritis.

In 1981 he met Professor Barry J. Marshall and the pair worked to demonstrate the significance of the bacteria, proving it was the cause of stomach ulcers, and Dr Warren helped develop a convenient test used to diagnose H. pylori in ulcer patients.

This work earned the pair the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2005, and they were appointed Companions of the Order of Australia in 2007.

In 1996, he was recognised with the University of Adelaide's Distinguished Alumni Award and, in 2006, received an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his distinguished achievement as a scholar and his contribution to society in physiology and medicine.

Dr Warren delivered the Florey Lecture on his research in 2006; he was the fifth person directly associated with University of Adelaide to win a Nobel Prize.