29 July 2009
A Monash University biomedical researcher who has pioneered new ways of treating heart failure, stress and high blood pressure has won Victoria's most prestigious science award, the 2009 Victoria Prize.
Professor Murray Esler, whose work continues to change the practice of medicine, was presented with the Victoria Prize on Tuesday night by the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser.
Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said Professor Esler won the $50,000 Victoria Prize for his breakthrough research into the sympathetic nervous system.
"Since 1973, Professor Esler has led the way internationally in cardiovascular neuroscience, resulting in a shift in the treatment of human stress, heart failure and high blood pressure."
"His work on stress has been put to the ultimate test -- on astronauts on board Space Shuttle Colombia in 1998, providing us with a wonderful example of the determination and creativity that exists among our researchers in Victoria," Mr Jennings said.
Professor Esler is a clinical cardiologist and medical scientist, based at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and Professor of Medicine at Monash University.
His first major breakthrough was his discovery that over-stimulation of the heart by the sympathetic nerves in cardiac failure, where the heart fails chronically as a pump, is a major cause of death.
"This research turned treatments upside down and underpinned the introduction of beta-blocking drugs, a class of drugs which is often life-saving," said Mr Jennings.
Since then, Professor Esler and his colleagues have gone on to show that over-stimulation of the kidneys by sympathetic nerves in patients with high blood pressure commonly initiates and sustains blood pressure elevation.
This research has led to the development of a revolutionary and promising new treatment for severe high blood pressure using a radiofrequency catheter placed in both kidney arteries.
Professor Esler has received many awards in recognition of his achievements, including the Susman Prize (1983), Wellcome (Australia) Medal (1989), Ramaciotti Medal (1997) and the Hartnett Medal of the Royal Society of the Arts (2002). He is the author of more than 300 medical papers.
He completed his studies of medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1967 and received a PhD from the Australian National University (Department of Clinical Science) in 1973. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1977) and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (2002). He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2007.
For more information or to arrange an interview with Professor Esler contact Samantha Blair Media and Communications + 61 3 9903 4841 or +61 439 013 951.
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