13 December 2007
Monash University researchers have dominated new National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Awards, taking out a quarter of the prizes at a ceremony in Canberra last night.
Four Monash scientists and researchers were recognised for their outstanding contributions.
Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Edwina Cornish said the Monash recipients were worthy winners.
"I congratulate the award recipients for their contributions to health and medical research and to the Monash community," Professor Cornish said.
The awards are designed to show the NHMRC's appreciation to the research and ethics community for their considerable scientific research, innovation and leadership.
Obstetrician, gynaecologist and senior lecturer Dr Stephen Tong, and anatomy and cell biology research fellow Dr James Bourne were both given a NHMRC Achievement Award in Career Development for junior researchers.
Dr Tong is researching ways to improve future clinical care in areas such as early pregnancy, the biological reasons behind producing twins and discovering molecules used to diagnose disease. His work with the immune system could help develop a novel class of drug to treat various diseases.
Dr Bourne is researching primate brains to assess the impact of damage to visual functions to help 'switch back on' developmental mechanisms after a stroke or other brain injury and regenerate vision.
"I want to uncover every twist and turn in the physiological and anatomical development of the visual cortex, where multiple areas evolve and interconnect like a well-woven fabric, seamlessly delivering sight," Dr Bourne said.
Dr Teresa Iacono from the University's Centre for Developmental Disability Health was given a NHMRC Ethics Award for her achievements in developing high ethical standards in health and medical research. She has been researching effective strategies for people with severe communication impairment so they can experience meaningful interactions and improve their quality of life.
Associate Professor Brian Cooke from Microbiology received a Science to Art Award, which recognises his studies of fatal malaria cases and a resulting image of the surface of a human red blood cell infected with a malaria parasite (available upon request).
"I hope that my small contribution may one day make a big difference to millions of people burdened by unnecessary illness," Associate Professor Cooke said.
"Simple and effective communication of our research is paramount, particularly in the present era of new, sophisticated technologies and merging disciplines. Science through art and graphic visualisation is a tantalising way to capture all imaginations."
The image, Cellular Renovations, represents a view of the surface of a human red blood cell infected with a malaria parasite.
School of Physics photographer Steven Morton manipulated and pseudo-coloured the image after the National University of Singapore provided the raw imaging data gained by atomic force microscopy.
The knob-like bumps are part of the renovations that the malaria parasite makes to its new home (the red blood cell) after it moves in during infection. The NHMRC-funded work at Monash University aims to understand the molecular nature of these changes in red blood cells that make malaria so severe. | 
