Special Lecture Conducted by Physiology Nobel Laureate Barry J. Marshall  

5th Next Intelligence Forum Held

▲ Dr. Barry J. Marshall during the lecture

On February 28, the 5th Next Intelligence Forum (NIF) was held at Mediheal Hall in Anam Hospital of the main campus. The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Barry J. Marshall, the recipient of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, who spoke on the topic of "Innovation and Curiosity Driven Research."

The NIF, which celebrates the 120th anniversary of the university in 2025, is an academic event inviting Nobel laureates and distinguished individuals from society to give special lectures. This particular event aimed to strengthen the research exchange partnership between Korea University and the University of Western Australia, and also commemorated the renovation of the first building of the College of Medicine.

The 5th NIF was attended by around 300 people, including President Kim Dong-one, Dean Pyun Sung-bom of the College of Medicine, faculty, students, and interested members of the public.

Before the lecture, President Kim delivered a welcoming speech, stating, "Dr. Marshall was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2005 for his contributions to the discovery of Helicobacter pylori. The story of his research, for which he personally administered Helicobacter pylori to his own body for observation, remains astonishing to this day. Today's lecture on research driven by innovation and curiosity is expected to provide fresh insights and instill a passion for innovation and curiosity among researchers at Korea University."

▲ President Kim Dong-one delivering a welcoming speech

In this NIF lecture, Dr. Marshall emphasized that innovation in medical knowledge originates from changes in perspective. When Dr. Marshall first discovered and reported the correlation between Helicobacter pylori and gastric ulcers, he challenged the belief widely accepted in the academic community that bacteria could not survive in highly acidic conditions. Faced with initial skepticism, he went to great lengths to prove the validity of his claim based on scientific evidence, even personally ingesting Helicobacter pylori to induce gastric ulcers. Through this case, he underscored how the illusion of knowledge can act as a significant obstacle to the advancement of medical knowledge. The discovery of Helicobacter pylori opened a new paradigm for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric ulcers. Dr. Marshall also mentioned that completely eliminating Helicobacter pylori could reduce the likelihood of developing stomach cancer, common in East Asia, to below 50%. He additionally highlighted the ongoing challenge of antibiotic resistance to addressing this issue.

A graduate student (medical science major) who attended the lecture said, "Dr. Marshall's research results were initially not accepted in journals, but his determination and dedication to research, leading to the Nobel Prize, were impressive. Through this meaningful lecture, I learned about the attitude and perspective required of a researcher."

▲ Group photo after the lecture

During the Q&A session following the lecture, Dr. Marshall emphasized the importance of innovative endeavors applying advanced technologies. He engaged in a lively discussion with students, addressing the direction that clinical scientists should take in the future.