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Governor's medal for IVF pioneer

25 February 2009

Professor Alan Trounson

Australian IVF pioneer Professor Alan Trounson has been honoured with the David de Kretser Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Monash University's Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

The David de Kretser Medal was one of two awards presented by the Monash University Medical Foundation at Government House on Thursday 12 February, 2009.

The medal is named in honour of Professor David de Kretser - the current Governor of Victoria - who received his MD from Monash in 1969.

The medal is awarded annually to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Previous winners include Professor John Murtagh AM, Professor Warwick Anderson AM and Emeritus Professor Mollie Holman AO.

Professor Alan Trounson is a world-renowned biologist and the founder and former Executive Vice-Chairman of the Australian Stem Cell Centre.

In 2007 Professor Trounson accepted the appointment of President of the $3 billion California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

The Monash University Medical Foundation also recognised John Curtin Distinguished Professor of International Health, Professor Michael Alpers AO, with a Lifetime Achievement Medal for his commitment to community health and equity in health on an international scale.

Professor Alpers has spent much of his working life carrying out field studies with rural communities in the tropics. His research interests include malaria, respiratory diseases (pneumonia, asthma), and virus diseases of the tropics.