Professor Basil Hetzel of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians talks of his family background in Europe and S. Australia, medical training in Adelaide and induction into medical research through interests in endocrinology, particularly the relationship between the adrenal cortex and thyroid and stress which led to important overseas attachments. Then, from a clinical research base in Adelaide he developed field interests in the distribution of goitre and goitrous cretinism in New Guinea, an interest leading to controlled trials of iodised oil injections in the highlands of Papua. In this interview he discusses the field findings and supporting laboratory research that validated prevention by iodised oil.Interest then turns to an appointment with Australia's CSIRO providing opportunities to monitor the influence of iodine deficiency states on embryonic brain development, work demonstrating the importance of both maternal and foetal thyroid metabolism. In a final part of the interview Professor Hetzel discusses his resulting international commitments to reducing vitamin deficiency disease incidence, including WHO and UNICEF initiatives.
Medical endocrinology, thyroid/iodine deficiency diseases, incidence and prevention of goitrous cretinism in Asia and New Guinea, iodine supplementation programmes
vid-106, MSVA_090
Permanent link to this resource: https://doi.org/10.24384/000118
Hetzel, BasilBlythe, Max
Learning Resources
Original artefact: 1993 RADAR resource: 2017
Sydney, AU
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