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Monash researcher receives prestigious award

9 July 2008

Professor James Whisstock said it was an honour for him and his team to be recognised for their contribution to molecular biology.

Australian Society for Medical Research Professor James Whisstock has received the Commonwealth Health Minister's Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research.

The award is granted to an internationally-renowned scientist who has completed their PhD within the last 12 years, has an outstanding record of accomplishment in medical research, is an inspiring role model and mentor, and skilled health communicator.

Professor Whisstock said he was delighted to receive the award.

"I have a great team who work hard and make amazing contributions. So it's an honour for my team and me to be recognised in this way," he said.

Professor Whisstock, from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has spent the past nine years studying the structure and function of a family of perforin-like proteins that kill bacteria, virally infected cells and cancer cells. They also play a role in developmental and neural biology.

Last year Professor Whisstock's group published the first three-dimensional structure of a perforin-like protein in the prestigious journal Science.

Remarkably the work showed that this disease-fighting molecule is also related to deadly bacterial toxins that cause anthrax, scarlet fever and flesh-eating disorders.

Professor Whisstock's award builds on a distinguished research career at Monash, which includes a 2007 NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship, a 2008 ARC Federation Fellowship and the 2006 Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year.

To find out more about Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Monash, visit the Department website.