Thomas Borody
Encyclopedia
Thomas Borody is an Australia
n gastoenterologist
based in Sydney
who is noted for his work in novel therapies for gastrointestinal
disorders.
in the mid-1970s and then worked for nine years at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney before undertaking postgraduate research at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research and at the Mayo Clinic
. He gained his Doctorate in Medicine in 1984.
with Helicobacter pylori
bacteria
. The triple therapy, which was invented around 1987, is a combination of bismuth
, metronidazole
and tetracycline. At the time, Borody was working with Dr. Barry Marshal and Dr. Robin Warren (who later received a Nobel prize for their research into Helicobacter pylori), and is considered to be the first physician to successfully formulate the triple therapy that would later become the gold standard for treating peptic ulcer disease caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.
. Dr. Borody has also made significant contributions to innovative treatment for Pseudomembranous colitis
and Ulcerative colitis
called Fecal bacteriotherapy
which involves repopulating the gut with beneficial bacteria using fecal material from healthy individuals.
, of which he remains the largest shareholder.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n gastoenterologist
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster , enteron , and logos...
based in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
who is noted for his work in novel therapies for gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal tract
The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus. ....
disorders.
Life
Thomas Julius Borody was born in Poland and migrated to Australia with his family in 1960. He gained degrees in Science and Medicine from the University of New South WalesUniversity of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in the mid-1970s and then worked for nine years at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney before undertaking postgraduate research at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research and at the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
. He gained his Doctorate in Medicine in 1984.
Triple therapy for H. pylori infection
As a gastroenterologist, Borody is most famous for his work on the development of the triple therapy for infectionInfection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
with Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori , previously named Campylobacter pyloridis, is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium found in the stomach. It was identified in 1982 by Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, who found that it was present in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers, conditions that were...
bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
. The triple therapy, which was invented around 1987, is a combination of bismuth
Bismuth
Bismuth is a chemical element with symbol Bi and atomic number 83. Bismuth, a trivalent poor metal, chemically resembles arsenic and antimony. Elemental bismuth may occur naturally uncombined, although its sulfide and oxide form important commercial ores. The free element is 86% as dense as lead...
, metronidazole
Metronidazole
Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antibiotic medication used particularly for anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. Metronidazole is an antibiotic, amebicide, and antiprotozoal....
and tetracycline. At the time, Borody was working with Dr. Barry Marshal and Dr. Robin Warren (who later received a Nobel prize for their research into Helicobacter pylori), and is considered to be the first physician to successfully formulate the triple therapy that would later become the gold standard for treating peptic ulcer disease caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.
Subsequent career
In the 1990s and early 2000s Borody discovered a number of other drug combinations which have been demonstrated to be important in treating gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's diseaseCrohn's disease
Crohn's disease, also known as regional enteritis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms...
. Dr. Borody has also made significant contributions to innovative treatment for Pseudomembranous colitis
Pseudomembranous colitis
Pseudomembranous colitis, a cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea , is an infection of the colon. It is often, but not always, caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile. Because of this, the informal name C. difficile colitis is also commonly used. The illness is characterized by...
and Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease . Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the colon , that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores. The main symptom of active disease is usually constant diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset...
called Fecal bacteriotherapy
Fecal bacteriotherapy
Fecal bacteriotherapy, also known as fecal transfusion, fecal transplant, stool transplant, or human probiotic infusion , is a medical treatment for patients with pseudomembranous colitis , or ulcerative colitis that involves restoration of colon homeostasis by reintroducing normal bacterial flora...
which involves repopulating the gut with beneficial bacteria using fecal material from healthy individuals.
Current work
Borody currently operates a Sydney-based clinic focused on gastrointestinal disorders called the Centre for Digestive Diseases. In 2004 he became a founder of the Australian biotechnology company GiacondaGiaconda
Giaconda is an Australian biotechnology company headquartered in Sydney. The company was founded in 2004 to commercialise a number of drug combinations developed by Professor Thomas Borody, a Sydney-based gastroenterologist.-History:...
, of which he remains the largest shareholder.