Dr. T. Colin Campbell (Is Our Nobel Prize)

Soon after touring the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, I stumbled upon an article about doctors petitioning for Dr. T. Colin Campbell to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

I have to say that this climate-aware traveler would love to see that, too—for the greatest benefit to humankind.

Dr. T. Colin Campbell spent more than 50 years conducting original research—including large-scale human studies on how nutrition impacts long-term health, especially on the causes of cancer.

He has received more than 70 grant years of public research funding—mostly from the U.S. National Cancer Institute of the NIH—and has authored more than 350 (mostly peer-reviewed) research papers.

In fact, Dr. Campbell discovered tumor growth could be turned on and off based on the type and quantity of protein that cells are exposed to.

Animal protein turned on tumor growth.

Dr. Campbell’s finding was confirmed with the China Project. Some have called his work" the Grand Prix of epidemiology.”

Dr. Campbell, Cornell Professor Emeritus, also taught my nutrition science program—a program where my classmates were medical doctors.

When we began to learn the science of plant-based nutrition, I actually held some skepticism—even though my surgeon told me (long ago) to follow this science.

I thought the plant-based nutrition lessons would prove my skepticism warranted. But, by the program's end, I saw what I never imagined.

I couldn’t believe the brightest light in the world wasn’t shining on Dr. Campbell’s research, as his research seemed to reveal a simple solution to shift global health and climate change.

My classmates felt similarly—these medical doctors significantly changed how they treated patients based on what we learned in class.

In a world that appears desperate for answers on cancer and climate change, one might wonder why anyone has to work to bring attention to Dr. Campbell’s research.

My most mindful answer is…

• there can be tens of thousands of nutrition-research papers published every year

• one has to determine which of these research papers are relevant

  • accurately interpret the evidence

  • place all related research into context

  • review the balance of the evidence

  • determine if research funding came from conflicts of interest

  • determine if results were manipulated

  • ensure there’s no agenda

Another potential reality is that, sometimes, those with the power to exact massive change might only want to feature research that looks and feels familiar to them. Plus, imagine the politics.

Findings opposite to what we’ve been led to believe most of our lives can scare us. We might not want to accept that a significant portion of our life was based on subpar information.

Individuals must brace for reactions each time they share something unexpected or new. None of this is easy to face, especially alone. Especially with wide-scale impact.

Most individuals might prefer to ignore such facts altogether, even though Einstein said, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”

So even though Dr. Campbell’s findings appear capable of significantly changing the rate at which our world might prevent cancer and reverse climate change, many people might be too afraid to even look at his research (though they should enjoy watching him in Forks Over Knives).

I still look forward to the brightest light in the world shining on Dr. Cambell’s research—so our collective health and climate crisis can change sooner, for the better.

However, regardless of what anyone else does, it’s clear that Dr. Campbell’s existence on this earth is our Nobel Prize.