Peter C. Doherty is a Nobel Laureate for Medicine, Professor for Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne and Michael F. Tamer Chair of BioMedical Research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Born in Brisbane, Australia, he received both his Bachelor and Master degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Queensland and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh in 1970. From 1972 till 1975 Prof. Doherty worked as a research fellow in the Department of Microbiology of the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra. During this time he carried out the studies for which he was awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize for Medicine together with Prof. Rolf Zinkernagel. The two scientists discovered how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells. This discovery laid the foundation for an understanding of general mechanisms used by the cellular immune system to recognize both foreign microorganisms and self molecules, and is therefore highly relevant to clinical medicine. It led to advances in therapeutic efforts to strengthen the immune system against invading microorganisms and certain forms of cancer, and to efforts to diminish the effects of autoimmune reactions in inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatic conditions, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. It has also proved to be a great advance in the field of organ transplantation. His current research focuses on aspects of immunity in influenza and AIDS.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005:

10:00 Keynote speech and dialogue at Suankulab College in cooperation with The Science Society of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty The King
(not a public event)

14:00 Keynote speech and dialogue at Chulalongkorn University

Information & free tickets: Phone 02-218-3331-5, Fax 02-216-1299,
E-mail int.off@chula.ac.th

Wednesday, February 23, 2005:

13:30 Keynote speech and dialogue at the National Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology (not a public event)

Thursday, February 24, 2005:

14:00 Keynote speech and dialogue at Chiang Mai University

Information & free tickets: Phone 053-943-661-5, 224-076 and 941-007,
Fax 053-219-252, 943-666 and 942-666, E-mail vpi@chiangmai.ac.th