19th Annual Health and Medical Research Awards

As the national peak body for health and medical research, these prestigious awards are our recognition of the outstanding efforts and achievements of individuals and teams who drive and support the opportunities that health and medical innovation bring to each and every one of our lives.

Acknowledging talent and excellence in our sector is not only a key part of Research Australia’s role in advocacy for health and medical research, it is also paramount to encouraging future generations of great researchers.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Awards Gala evening at Metropolis Southbank on Thursday 8th December 2022 from 6.00pm. Ticket sales are now open – click here to register!

This year’s categories are:

Health Services Research Award sponsored by the Victorian Government (DJPR)
Griffith University Discovery Award
Great Australian Philanthropy Award
Frontiers Award Sponsored by Australian National University
Data Innovation Award 
Advocacy Award Sponsored by AbbVie
Peter Wills Medal
GSK Australia Award for Research Excellence

Again, a huge thank you goes out to our Premium Event Partner The University of Melbourne and our award sponsors VIC Government (DJPR), GSK, Digital Health CRC, Griffith University, ANU and AbbVie.

Winners 2020-21

A big congratulations to all Award winners and highly-commended finalists for their truly amazing efforts and achievements in health and medical research over the past two years.

Health Services Research Award Sponsored by the NSW Government

Winner: Professor Brett Mitchell, Newcastle University

Highly commended: Professor Imogen Mitchell & Dr Brett Scholz, ANU and Professor Catherine Mihalopoulos, Deakin University

Data Innovation Award Sponsored by Bupa Health Foundation

Winner: Dr Tracy Dudding-Byth, Hunter New England LHD

Highly commended: Dr Qing Zhong, Children’s Medical Research Institute

Frontiers Research Award Sponsored by ANU

Winner: Dr John Parker, Saluda Medical

Highly commended: Professor Wojciech Chrzanowski, University of Sydney and Robert Newton, Edith Cowan University

Griffith University Discovery Award

Winner: Dr Mo Chen, Griffith University

Highly commended: Dr Natalie Hyde, Deakin University and Dr Heidi Staudacher, Deakin University

Advocacy Award

Winner: Damien, Bob & Debbie Thompson, Chimera Legacy Foundation

Highly commended: Professor Megan Munsie, Melbourne University

Great Australian Philanthropy Award

Winner: Andrew & Jean Miller, Miller Foundation

Highly commended: Mr Bruce Neill, Menzies Institute

GSK Award for Research Excellence

2020 winner: Professor Mark Febbraio, Monash University

2021 winners: Professor Jamie Cooper, Monash University and Professor Rinaldo Bellomo, Austin Health

The Peter Wills Medal

Winner: Professor Brendan Murphy, Chief Medical Officer, Federal Department of Health

Thank you to our 2020-21 Awards Sponsors for partnering with us to deliver a wonderful awards program in recognition of our incredible health and medical research sector.

You can see a full list of previous Award winners here.