Marshall’s Nobel Prize–winning work led to the discovery of a previously undescribed bacterium, Helicobacter Pylori, in the human stomach, which ultimately led to proof of his theory that peptic ulcers were caused by this bacterium, and that patients with this bacterium also were at significant risk for developing stomach cancer. These findings revolutionized treatment for ulcer patients worldwide.

His current research is aimed at developing vaccines related to Helicobacter, perhaps using some of the components of the bacterium itself as a vaccine.

“What I see at Penn State that’s quite exciting is that in microbiology, they have cultivated a very diverse type of faculty— lateral thinkers, creative people not just focused on book learning,” says Marshall. “So whenever I come here and talk to the faculty, I learn a lot. There are people doing epidemiological studies on measles and epidemics, and studying tropical-disease genomics.”

Faculty in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences are looking forward to interacting and collaborating with Marshall, according to department head Vivek Kapur. “His interest and track record in translating the results of basic biomedical research to useful products and procedures is an inspiration to all,” Kapur says, “and I believe will be of particular benefit to our graduate and undergraduate students as they make career decisions.”

Kapur’s appointment as department head in July 2007 also was something of a coup for the College of Agricultural Sciences. Previously a professor of microbiology and director of the Biomedical Genomics Center at the University of Minnesota, he has a distinguished scholarly record that complements the college’s existing strengths in veterinary diagnostics, environmental toxicology, and immunology and infectious disease.