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Student commended for medical research

17 June 2009

Adrian Cameron

PhD student Adrian Cameron, whose research into metabolic syndrome has helped doctors better predict Type 2 diabetes, has received the 2009 Premier's Award for Medical Research.

Mr Cameron received $8000 and a certificate from the Premier of Victoria at a ceremony at Government House earlier this month.

Metabolic syndrome is a collection of disorders that occur together and increase a person's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, stroke or heart disease.

Through his work, Mr Cameron, a PhD candidate in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, is helping shape the way obesity is tackled in Australia.

Mr Cameron said urgent action was needed to help people control their waistlines.

"The consequences of obesity are serious, and can include the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and premature death," he said.

"Obesity is a major risk factor; as a society, we need to prevent it developing in children and young people to avoid the heart attacks and diabetes that can occur if they don't control their weight."

Using data from the landmark Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab), Mr Cameron's research has provided key national information on the level of obesity in Australia and its health consequences.

In 2004/05 the AusDiab study showed that every day in Australia, 275 adults developed diabetes. The study also showed the average increase in waist circumference in Australians over five years was 2.1 centimetres.

His work has answered important questions on the role of abdominal obesity in metabolic syndrome, and how it can be used to predict the development of diabetes -- a question of relevance to both clinicians and researchers.

His findings have been published in 22 top-ranked international journals and he has been invited to speak at major international conferences and expert committee meetings on obesity and the metabolic syndrome.