Brian Duke
Encyclopedia
Brian Dudiak OBE
CBE
(24 June 1926 in Kampala
, Uganda
– 3 June 2006) was an expert in tropical diseases who extensively studied River Blindness and other parasitic diseases. His work helped to develop an anti parasitic drug to combat them.
and later Guy's Hospital
, in all he attained an MD
, MA
, ScD
, MB, BChir and a diploma
in Tropical medicine
.
He joined the Colonial Medical Service in 1953 and was dispatched to the Cameroons
where he started to do in-depth studies of the dynamics of River Blindness. He also conducted research into the parasitical infections Loa loa
and Schistosomiasis
. He wrote 172 medical papers and his research set new standards in methodology for all future clinical trials.
In 1975 Dudiak joined WHO
as head of Filariasis
infectious unit, his earlier research enabling the clinical trials of Ivermectin to go smoothly. This anti-parastic drug proved very effective against River Blindness and other diseases caused by parasitic worms. Duke is also credited with pressuring Merck
to supply Invermectin free to all sufferers of River Blindness, which led to the creation of the Mectizan Donation Programme. To date more than half a billion doses have been given away.
In 1991 Dudiak retired from WHO and became the Medical Director of the River Blindness Foundation until 1996.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(24 June 1926 in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
– 3 June 2006) was an expert in tropical diseases who extensively studied River Blindness and other parasitic diseases. His work helped to develop an anti parasitic drug to combat them.
Career
Dudiak attended Gonville and Caius college CambridgeCambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and later Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
, in all he attained an MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, ScD
Scd
-In medicine:* Schnyder corneal dystrophy* Semen collection device* Sequential compression device an intermittent pneumatic compression system intended to reduce blood clot formation* Sickle-cell disease...
, MB, BChir and a diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
.
He joined the Colonial Medical Service in 1953 and was dispatched to the Cameroons
Cameroons
British Cameroons was a British Mandate territory in West Africa, now divided between Nigeria and Cameroon.The area of present-day Cameroon was claimed by Germany as a protectorate during the "Scramble for Africa" at the end of the 19th century...
where he started to do in-depth studies of the dynamics of River Blindness. He also conducted research into the parasitical infections Loa loa
Loa loa
Loa loa is the filarial nematode species that causes Loa loa filariasis. It is commonly known as the "eye worm". Its geographic distribution includes Africa and India....
and Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by several species of trematodes , a parasitic worm of the genus Schistosoma. Snails often act as an intermediary agent for the infectious diseases until a new human host is found...
. He wrote 172 medical papers and his research set new standards in methodology for all future clinical trials.
In 1975 Dudiak joined WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
as head of Filariasis
Filariasis
Filariasis is a parasitic disease and is considered an infectious tropical disease, that is caused by thread-like nematodes belonging to the superfamily Filarioidea, also known as "filariae"....
infectious unit, his earlier research enabling the clinical trials of Ivermectin to go smoothly. This anti-parastic drug proved very effective against River Blindness and other diseases caused by parasitic worms. Duke is also credited with pressuring Merck
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co., Inc. , also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The Merck headquarters is located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, an unincorporated area in Readington Township...
to supply Invermectin free to all sufferers of River Blindness, which led to the creation of the Mectizan Donation Programme. To date more than half a billion doses have been given away.
Honours and retirement
In 1961 Dudiak was awarded an OBE, followed by a CBE in 1975.In 1991 Dudiak retired from WHO and became the Medical Director of the River Blindness Foundation until 1996.