The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences has awarded the 2025 Jian Zhou Medal to two outstanding mid-career researchers whose work is transforming clinical practice and shaping the future of the health and medical sciences: Professor Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg, and Professor Francine Marques.
The Medal, awarded annually to rising leaders in the health and medical sciences, honours the legacy of Professor Jian Zhou, whose co-invention of the cervical cancer vaccine has saved millions of lives.
Professor Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg: Making anaesthesia safer for children
Professor Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg, Chair of Paediatric Anaesthesia at The University of Western Australia and Consultant Anaesthetist at Perth Children’s Hospital, has been recognised for her groundbreaking work to improve the safety of anaesthesia in children — particularly those at highest risk.
Each year in Australia, more than 250,000 children undergo surgery involving anaesthesia, with one in seven experiencing breathing complications during surgery. Her team’s research has identified risk factors, refined anaesthetic techniques and informed international guidelines, reducing complications and transforming care for some of the most vulnerable patients.
“It is a real privilege to be recognised with the 2025 Jian Zhou Medal,” Professor Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg said. “I take pride in conducting research that is collaborative and impactful, and to receive this Medal in recognition of a scientist who was dedicated to those same principles is amazing.”
Her research has shown that children at high risk of breathing problems can be identified during their pre-anaesthesia assessment, enabling personalised management and safer outcomes. This work has been incorporated into international guidelines, changing anaesthetic practice worldwide.
Professor Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg emphasised that the award reflects the contributions of many.
“This prize is not just for me – it’s for my whole team, our clinical colleagues and the thousands of children and families who have generously participated in our studies,” she said.
“Mentorship and collaboration have been crucial to me throughout my career, from my early days as a medical student in Germany and Switzerland through to building my team here in Perth.”
She encourages early-career researchers to embrace persistence and collaboration, saying “Impossible is just an opinion. Don’t give up — persistence makes the difference.”
Looking ahead, her team will continue to work with families and clinicians to improve safety, perioperative pain management and reduce fear and anxiety for children facing surgery.
Professor Francine Marques: Redefining blood pressure management through the microbiome
Professor Marques, Head of the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University, has been recognised for her pioneering work exploring how diet and the gut microbiome influence blood pressure.
Her research has shown how microbial products, such as short-chain fatty acids generated from dietary fibre, can lower blood pressure — discoveries that have been validated in clinical trials and recognised in an American Heart Association Science Advisory, a consensus statement by an international panel of experts that highlights important new directions for cardiovascular research and clinical care.
“It’s an incredible honour to be recognised with the Jian Zhou Medal,” Professor Marques said. “It acknowledges not just our research, but the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives. I see it as a reflection of the amazing team I work with, the collaborative culture we’ve built, and the value of asking bold, relevant questions — like how the gut microbiome might help us rethink blood pressure management.”
Her findings open the door to new non-pharmacological approaches to hypertension, including supplements, probiotics and personalised dietary advice. These advances could reshape cardiovascular care, which is particularly important given that high blood pressure remains the leading risk factor for death worldwide.
“This recognition helps bring visibility to emerging areas such as the microbiome and encourages collaboration across disciplines — which is the only way to solve complex problems,” she said.
Professor Marques also credits her mentors, colleagues and team:
“Scientific progress is never a solo effort. I am fortunate to work with brilliant researchers and to mentor the next generation of scientists. Their creativity and resilience inspire me every day.”
For early-career researchers, her advice is to surround themselves with mentors, ask big questions and celebrate small wins. “Build a resilient mindset — the road is hard but worth it if you are surrounded by the right people.”
She is now focused on translating microbiome science into clinical tools, while building a supportive research environment for the next generation of scientists.
About the Jian Zhou Medal
The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences’ Jian Zhou Medal is awarded annually to one or two mid-career researchers who are making transformative contributions to the health and medical sciences. The Medal celebrates the legacy of Professor Jian Zhou, who co-developed the HPV vaccine that prevents cervical cancer.
The 2025 Medals will be formally conferred at the Academy’s Annual Meeting in Canberra on 29 October 2025.
Academy media contact: Khaled Chakli: [email protected] (0423 099 568)