This
year's Gairdner Global Health Award went to Dr. Nubia Muñoz, a scientist and
Emeritus Professor at the National Cancer Institute of Columbia, for her
research connecting human papillomavirus (HPV) with cervical cancer. Dr. Muñoz
is one of only a few women to win the prestigious Global Health Award.
What is HPV?
Human
papillomavirus infects the skin and mucous membranes of humans; typically, HPV affects
women's health more than men's. Many people who contract HPV do not develop
symptoms or health problems. There are
approximately 130 types of HPV, nine of which are considered "high-risk" because
they can cause cancer.
A
vaccine, now called Gardasil, was invented nearly two decades ago and was
approved in many countries, including the United
States, Australia,
and nations in the European Union (EU). Dr. Nubia Muñoz was a member of the
committee of scientists that supervised the clinical tests for Gardasil. She
has since been honored for her contributions to the study and treatment of HPV.
Research and Discovery
In
2008, Dr. Nubia Muñoz won
the first Sir Richard Doll Prize in Epidemiology for proving that HPV causes
cervical cancer. Her prize-winning study focused on two areas. First, Muñoz
conducted an international series of case-control studies using modern
laboratory techniques. These case-studies demonstrated that HPV infection by
certain genotypes is one of the strongest cancer risk factors ever discovered.
Fom
that discovery, Muñoz was able to estimate risks. This allowed a definition of
the HPV genotypes to target for prevention. The case-studies also helped Muñoz
realize that although HPV wasn't the sole cause of cervical cancer, the human papillomavirus should be viewed as a
critical one.
The
second area of study focused on convincing fellow researchers at the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRAC) to reach a consensus on the
classification of HPV carcinogens for its Monograph series on carcinogenicity
evaluation. In 1995, Muñoz led experts in classifying HPVs 16 and 18 as two
genotypes to receive the label "Group 1, Human Carcinogens".
Results
The
HPV monograph had a huge impact on prevention research. Biotechnology companies
began to focus on developing HPV tests to improve traditional cervical cancer
screening. Ten years later, there are two new types of cervical cancer
prevention: HPV vaccination and improved HPV tests.
Dr.
Nubia Muñoz has won many other awards for her work, including induction into the
John Hopkins Society of Scholars in 2004.
Resources:
http://genderacrossborders.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/dr-nubia-munoz-science-award/
http://www.gairdner.org/awards/2009awarde/nubiamunoz~2
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_FAQ_HPV_Vaccines.asp?sitearea=
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