Nicholas White (physician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Nicholas White
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White in 2011.
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| Professor of Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford | |
| In office 1996–2026 |
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| Professor of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University | |
| Assumed office 1995 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nicholas John White
13 March 1951 |
| Died | 1 February 2026 (aged 74) |
| Occupation | Tropical medicine specialist |
Sir Nicholas John White (born March 13, 1951, died February 1, 2026) was a brilliant British doctor and scientist. He dedicated his life to studying and treating diseases common in warm, tropical parts of the world, especially in countries that are still developing. He became famous for his important work on diseases like malaria, finding new ways to treat it with special medicines.
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A Life Dedicated to Healing
Nicholas White began his journey to become a doctor by studying medicine at Guy's Hospital Medical School in London. After finishing his studies, he gained more experience working in different hospitals. He became skilled in internal medicine, which means he learned to diagnose and treat many common illnesses in adults.
Fighting Tropical Diseases Worldwide
Starting in 1980, Dr. White joined a special team of scientists. This team was a partnership between Mahidol University in Thailand and the University of Oxford in the UK. They worked together to study tropical diseases. By 1986, he became the leader of this important research group. He also helped set up similar research partnerships in Vietnam and Laos. These teams focused on understanding and fighting many serious tropical illnesses. These included malaria, typhoid fever, dengue fever, and even tropical types of the influenza (flu).
Recognizing His Impact: Awards and Honors
Sir Nicholas White received many important awards for his groundbreaking work. In 1999, he was honored by the British Empire, becoming an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was a recognition of his great service. He won the GlaxoSmithKline Prize in 2005 for his scientific discoveries. In 2006, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He also received the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award and the Prince Mahidol Award in 2010. These awards celebrated his efforts to improve health around the world. In 2017, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG), which meant he could use the title 'Sir'.
A Legacy of Knowledge
Sir Nicholas White was a very productive scientist. He wrote or helped write over 1300 scientific papers. These papers shared his discoveries and knowledge with other doctors and researchers worldwide. This huge amount of work showed how much he contributed to medical science. He was married and had three children. Sir Nicholas White passed away on February 1, 2026, at the age of 74, leaving behind a lasting legacy in tropical medicine.
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