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| Award for sleeping sickness work | Award for sleeping sickness work |
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| A Ugandan scientist based at Glasgow University has won this year's £65,000 Royal Society Pfizer Award. | A Ugandan scientist based at Glasgow University has won this year's £65,000 Royal Society Pfizer Award. |
| Biomedical researcher Dr Enock Matovu, 40, won the prize for groundbreaking work into sleeping sickness, which kills about 50,000 people each year. | |
| The tropical disease is caused by a parasite which is spread through the bite of the tsetse fly. | The tropical disease is caused by a parasite which is spread through the bite of the tsetse fly. |
| Dr Matovu's work on drug resistance in the parasite changed the course of how the disease was treated. | Dr Matovu's work on drug resistance in the parasite changed the course of how the disease was treated. |
| As a result of his findings, the Ugandan authorities ordered a change in drug legislation saving thousands of patients. | As a result of his findings, the Ugandan authorities ordered a change in drug legislation saving thousands of patients. |
| Mike Barrett, Professor of Biochemical Parasitology at Glasgow University, has worked with Dr Matovu for a number of years. | Mike Barrett, Professor of Biochemical Parasitology at Glasgow University, has worked with Dr Matovu for a number of years. |
| Dr Matovu's greatest strength lies in his ability to link hardcore scientific research to the on-field situation. He is undoubtedly one of Africa's research stars Professor Mike BarrettUniversity of Glasgow He said: "Dr Matovu's greatest strength lies in his ability to link hardcore scientific research to the on-field situation. He is undoubtedly one of Africa's research stars. | Dr Matovu's greatest strength lies in his ability to link hardcore scientific research to the on-field situation. He is undoubtedly one of Africa's research stars Professor Mike BarrettUniversity of Glasgow He said: "Dr Matovu's greatest strength lies in his ability to link hardcore scientific research to the on-field situation. He is undoubtedly one of Africa's research stars. |
| "There are only two drugs used to treat sleeping sickness. Melarosprol is so toxic it kills 5% of patients, regardless of the disease. | "There are only two drugs used to treat sleeping sickness. Melarosprol is so toxic it kills 5% of patients, regardless of the disease. |
| "However, thanks to Dr Matovu's research, the Ugandan authorities replaced the arsenic-based Melarsoprol with Eflornithine, a less toxic drug, in areas where Dr Matovu had identified the presence of resistant parasites." | "However, thanks to Dr Matovu's research, the Ugandan authorities replaced the arsenic-based Melarsoprol with Eflornithine, a less toxic drug, in areas where Dr Matovu had identified the presence of resistant parasites." |
| Dr Matovu will collect his award at a ceremony in London hosted by the Royal Society. | Dr Matovu will collect his award at a ceremony in London hosted by the Royal Society. |
| He has also been given an honorary research fellow position from Glasgow University. | He has also been given an honorary research fellow position from Glasgow University. |
| "I am greatly honoured and privileged to have been selected for the Pfizer award," he said. | "I am greatly honoured and privileged to have been selected for the Pfizer award," he said. |
| "It is reassuring that someone out there recognizes my humble contribution." | "It is reassuring that someone out there recognizes my humble contribution." |