The Donald Mackay Medal is for outstanding work in tropical health, especially relating to improvements in the health of rural or urban workers in the tropics. It is for those at the mid stage in their career. The Medal is awarded in alternating years by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (even years) and by the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (odd years).
Prof Lorenz von Seidlein, Professor of Global Health at MORU, said: ‘Donald Mackay worked on Health and Safety Improvements, disease prevention, and community health initiatives in what is now Sylhet, Bangladesh. I am delighted that the society is recognising the continued need for a range of interventions to eliminate and ultimately eradicate malaria. Immediate access to correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment wherever malaria is prevalent remains paramount.’
Lorenz studied medicine in Dublin, trained in paediatrics in Miami, and in infectious diseases in Los Angeles. In 1995, he moved to The Gambia to work on the first antimalarial ACT trials (artemether- lumefantrine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-artesunate) in Africa. Lorenz acquired experience in vaccinology at the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul, Korea where he coordinated enteric vaccine related field studies in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Pakistan and Mozambique. In 2006 Lorenz moved to Tanzania to coordinate a of set of trials to evaluate the malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01.
Since 2014, Lorenz has lived in Bangkok working at MORU on malaria elimination including mass administrations of antimalarial drugs, in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. With colleagues in Bangladesh Lorenz is currently preparing a mass vaccination with R21/MM and drug administration campaign (MVDA) to interrupt malaria transmission. Over the last decade Lorenz is collaborating with colleagues from Denmark, UK, Thailand, and Tanzania on the evaluation of health benefits of novel house designs in Tanzania.
Professor Nick Day, Professor of Tropical Medicine, nominated Prof Lorenz von Seidlein. He said: ‘I nominated Lorenz because of his consistent impactful and always innovative contributions to clinical malaria research. It was his idea to conduct the AQUAMAT clinical trial in Africa, which led directly to the global use of artesunate for severe malaria. Trials he has led have resulted in the licensing of the first human malaria vaccine, provided evidence for the use of mass drug administration in malaria elimination efforts, and investigated how child health outcomes can be improved through housing improvements. I am delighted the Society is recognising these extraordinary achievements by awarding Lorenz the Donald Mackay Medal.’
In Sept 2024, Lorenz was appointed as Visiting Professor of Molecular Biology at Mahidol University's Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine beginning in the academic year 2024 in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the discipline.
Professor Mallika Imwong, Malariologist in the Mahidol Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine, said: ‘We are thrilled to have [Lorenz] on board and look forward to the vast knowledge and skills he will bring to the department. It will be an excellent chance to participate in stimulating debates and partnerships, and we are convinced that his presence will considerably benefit our academic community.’
Read the full story on the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene website: https://www.rstmh.org/news-blog/news/rstmh-medals-and-awards-winners-2024