Media Release: 17 November 2016

Australia’s most inspiring health and medical researchers, advocates and philanthropist were celebrated last night at the 2016 Research Australia Health and Medical Research Awards.

Nadia Levin, CEO of Research Australia, said the night was a magnificent success that paid tribute to the efforts and energy of some of the sectors biggest names and most promising up-and-comers.

“Last nights’ Health and Medical Research Awards prove that Australia’s research sector is a force to be reckoned with,” said Ms Levin.

“We were joined by hundreds of people who tirelessly work to improve the health and wellbeing of our wider community, and it was an honour to acknowledge their work.

“The best health and medical research requires innovation, drive, creativity and ingenuity, and the 2016 Research Australia Award Winners exemplify all of those characteristics,” she said.

The evening’s most prestigious award, the Peter Wills Medal went to Professor Ian Gust AO, to recognise a lifetime of discoveries, including the Hepatitis A vaccination, which has saved thousands.

Brenda King from SIDS Stampede was awarded the Advocacy Award for her tireless efforts to raise support and funding for SIDS laboratory research underway at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

The Griffith University Discovery Award was awarded to Dr Rebecca Coll from the University of Queensland for her work in the human inflammatory diseases. Highly commended awards were also presented to Dr Felicity Davis, and Dr Michael Livingston.

The Great Australian Philanthropy Award was presented to the McCusker Charitable Foundation, which has dedicated more than two decades and $50 million to a diverse range of health and medical research and practice projects in Western Australia.

The Capital Markets CRC Health Market Quality Team was awarded the inaugural Data Innovation Award for their inventive data interpretation. The National Breast Cancer Foundation and DreamLab (Vodafone and Garvan Institute of Medical Research) received highly commended acknowledgements.

Volvo Car Australia was awarded the Leadership in Corporate Giving Award, for their fundraising and support of the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.

Professor Michael Barton AOM from the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research was awarded the NSW Health Health Services Research Award for his unending efforts in making cancer treatments more accessible across Australia and the world.

Ms Levin said that the nominees for each Award category were of an incredibly high calibre, which is a great sign of things to come.

“On behalf of the Research Australia team I would like to thank all our nominees, nominators and our Research Australia alliance members,” said Levin

Media Contact: Philip McCall 02 9234 3888 or 0438 619 987
Isabelle Colla 02 9234 3888 or 0432 970 548

 

2016 RESEARCH AUSTRALIA HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH AWARD WINNERS

THE PETER WILLS MEDAL recognises an Australian who has made an outstanding contribution to building Australia’s international reputation in the area of health and medical research, and fostering collaboration for better health.

Awarded to: Professor Ian Gust AO

                                                                                                                                               

ADVOCACY AWARD recognises an Australian from the media, a celebrity or member of the community who has raised community awareness about the benefits of health and medical research.

Awarded to: Brenda King, SIDS Stampede

                                                                                                                                               

THE GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY DISCOVERY AWARD recognises an early researcher (no more than five years post PhD) whose paper/patent/discovery has already demonstrated its importance or impact.

Awarded to: Dr Rebecca Coll

Highly Commended: Dr Felicity Davis and Dr Michael Livingston

                                                                                                                                               

GREAT AUSTRALIAN PHILANTHROPY AWARD to recognise and encourage personal philanthropic donations over a period of time by an individual or family to health and medical research.

Awarded to: The McCusker Charitable Foundation

                                                                                                                                               

DATA INNOVATION IN HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH AWARD for the development of the most innovative method of gathering, making available, processing or interpreting data in a way that advances the sector.

Awarded to: Capital Markets CRC Health Market Quality Team

Highly Commended: The National Breast Cancer Foundation and DreamLab (Vodafone and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research)

                                                                                                                                               

LEADERSHIP IN CORPORATE GIVING AWARD recognises outstanding leadership by a corporation or business giving to and supporting health and medical research through relationships or partnership and commitment over time.

Awarded to: Volvo Car Australia

                                                                                                                                               

NSW HEALTH HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AWARD created in 2014 to recognise the importance of the emerging field of health service research.

Awarded to: Professor Michael Barton OAM