Applications open for 2011 Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research
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Media release
The Hon Ted Baillieu MP
Premier
Minister for the Arts
Thursday 3 February 2011
Applications open for 2011 Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research
Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu today opened the statewide call for applications for the 2011 Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research.
Mr Baillieu said the Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research celebrated the important contribution early career researchers made to Victoria.
“This award is a great opportunity for all Victorians to recognise the achievements of these young people, and I urge Victoria’s up-and-coming health and medical researchers to showcase their talents by nominating themselves or their peers,” Mr Baillieu said.
Past winners of the award have worked in a range of health and medical research fields including cancer, diabetes, cochlear implants and tuberculosis.
“What these researchers have in common is success in their chosen field, as each has made a major contribution to Victoria’s international reputation for health and medical research,” said Mr Baillieu.
Dr Julia Archbold, the 2010 winner, has been furthering her research into the role of immune system proteins in organ transplantation both here in Victoria and overseas. Her award-winning research played a major part in helping to explain why patients who receive donor-recipient matched organs reject these tissues.
The Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research includes $70,000 in prize money — with
$16,000 presented to the winner and $8,000 provided to each of the three commendees. The award is an initiative of the Victorian Government and the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR).
The Jack and Robert Smorgon Families Foundation also award a $30,000 prize to the research institute associated with the work of the Premier’s Award winner. Last year Monash University's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where Julia Archbold worked, received the prize.
"Our Foundation is delighted to support the important contribution made by Victorian institutes to health and medical research, which benefit not only our community but also the world,” said Andrew Blode, CEO of the Jack and Robert Smorgon Families Foundation.
Nominations are open until 5pm, Wednesday 16 March. The winner and commendees will be announced during Medical Research Week in early June 2011. For further information and to apply online go to www.business.vic.gov.au/premiersaward or call the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) on (03) 9864 0911.
Media Contact: Kate Walshe 0411 472 299