29 October 2024
The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) has announced its 2024 Fellowships, recognising several researchers with the Health Translation Queensland (HTQ) partnership for their exceptional contribution to health and medical sciences.
HTQ Executive Director Professor John Prins was also elected Vice President of AAHMS. He congratulated the 4 Queensland researchers elected by their peers to join the prestigious national body of Fellows.
“Each of the fellows is recognised internationally as a leader in their field and has an unwavering commitment to research collaborations that improve health care for everyone’s benefit.” Professor Prins said.
“Their election amplifies Queensland’s representation at AAHMS, highlighting the state’s significant research breadth, diversity and capability.”
Translational Research Institute CEO and HTQ Board member Professor Scott Bell has been elected in honour of his outstanding contribution to knowledge of the mechanisms of infection and transmission in people with cystic fibrosis.
One of his career highlights has been co-leading the development of a new global blueprint for caring for people with cystic fibrosis. Professor Bell has also been instrumental in driving the national scale-up of biomedical manufacturing capability.
QIMR Berghofer researcher Professor Stuart MacGregor’s election as an AAHMS Fellow reflects his outstanding contribution to science, including his work mapping hundreds of genes for diseases from skin cancer to eye disease.
His recent work led to the development and commercialisation of a genetic test for glaucoma, serving as a model for future genetics-based risk prediction across a wide range of complex human diseases.
Two researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) have been honoured as AAHMS Fellows in 2024: Professor James Ward, Director of UQ’s Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, and Professor Andreas Obermair from UQ’s Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR).
A Pitjantjatjara and Narungga man, Professor Ward has also been awarded the inaugural AAHMS medal for Outstanding First Nations Researcher.
Over the last 20 years, Professor Ward has led large-scale research studies aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. His work has specialised in infectious diseases, particularly sexual health, HIV and viral hepatitis. More recently, he developed a First Nations urban research program, leading to significant research studies.
Professor Obermair’s election to the AAHMS Fellowship reflects over 2 decades of patient care and research dedicated to improving care for women with gynaecological cancer.
As a gynaecologic oncologist, surgical teacher, researcher and consumer advocate, Professor Obermair’s research is focused on translating scientific knowledge into clinical practice and identifying areas where current treatments are ineffective or unnecessarily harmful.
The AAHMS welcomed 31 new Fellows across Australia to the Academy in 2024. For further details, please see their website.
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Health Translation Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which we live, work, and play. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their Descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. We recognise their valuable contributions to Australian and global society.
