Nick White was Professor of Tropical Medicine at the University of Oxford and Mahidol University in Thailand. He was a central figure in the development of the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) and its sister unit, the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam (OUCRU). In these endeavours he was supported by the Wellcome Trust throughout his career.
From his arrival in Thailand in 1980, he was closely involved in establishing MORU as a leading centre for clinical research on malaria and other infectious diseases, working in long-term partnership with local hospitals, clinicians, and researchers. Under his scientific leadership, MORU became world renowned for clinical research that combined methodological rigour with direct relevance to patient care.
Nick was internationally recognised as a leading expert in malaria therapeutics, making seminal contributions to the field that transformed global policy. At a time when resistance to existing antimalarial drugs threatened effective treatment, Nick led a team that generated the clinical evidence through multinational clinical trials that underpinned the widespread adoption of artemisinin drugs. He developed the theory and evidence to support artemisinin-based combination therapies, which have become the standard of care for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and intravenous artesunate for the treatment of severe malaria. These treatments have been used in more than a billion patients and saved millions of lives. His work continues to shape clinical practice.
Nick’s scientific interests extended to other infectious diseases of major public health importance, including dengue, melioidosis, typhoid fever, and tetanus. Across these areas, his research was grounded in careful clinical observation and a consistent focus on practical solutions that had maximum impact on health outcomes. His pragmatic approach ensured that his findings were applicable in real-world settings, particularly in resource-limited environments. He made further important contributions to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Medicine website.