As Professor of Anatomy and Medicine and founding Director of the Monash Institute of Medical Research, Professor de Krester’s research led to 494 refereed publications and 170 Chapters. He served as President of the International Society of Andrology. His team isolated inhibin and follistatin as FSH regulators and showed that activin A, an FSH stimulator is also a key proinflammatory cytokine. Follistatin, by blocking activin actions, has anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory therapeutic potential. His research enhanced infertility management and our understanding of the hormonal regulation of reproduction and aspects of inflammation and fibrosis. He initiated community and professional education program called Andrology Australia.

Professor Stephen Davis is an international leader in clinical neurology and clinical neuroscience research. He is the Director of the largest Australian Neurology Department and directs a translational neuroscience research facility, the Melbourne Brain Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital/University of Melbourne. He is the PI of an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence Grant. He regarded as an international stroke research leader, particularly in imaging in selection of acute therapy and has held 3 consecutive NMHRC Program Grants. He is the current President of the World Stroke Organization and Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists.

Professor Suzanne Crowe is a physician-scientist who co-founded the first HIV clinic in Melbourne (Fairfield Hospital, 1984). Her internationally-recognized research focusses on two areas of global importance: HIV pathogenesis and HIV care in resource-limited countries. Her findings inform clinical practice and current “cure” research. Her co-developed point-of-care CD4 test, licensed to Omega, UK, will provide access to treatment for millions of HIV-infected individuals in the developing world. She is active in global policy-making. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, recognised for her service to medical research in HIV/AIDS medicine as an academic, clinician and researcher.

Professor Brendan Crabb has made a number of discoveries of major significance relating to our understanding of human malaria, a field in which he is a major internationally recognised figure. He was primarily responsible for the discovery of the malaria translocon, a protein machine that constitutes perhaps the leading new drug target in malaria. He also pioneered genetic technologies in human malaria, describing the first gene knockout in this organism. He has made a significant broader contribution to health and medical research, most notably through his leadership of the Burnet Institute and the Association of Australia Medical Research Institutes.

Professor Coppel has made original and important contributions in the study of malaria, primary biliary cirrhosis, tuberculosis and bioinformatics. His areas of molecular study include antigen discovery for malaria vaccines, identification of autoantigens to study the autoimmune response and disease etiology, key proteins involved in cell wall synthesis of mycobacteria and development of advanced genomic databases. This has resulted in marketed diagnostics and the preclinical development of malaria vaccines and novel antibiotics for eventual human trial. He has a senior leadership role in building research excellence and provides high-level strategic advice to major institutions nationally and internationally.

Professor Cooper is a previous Australia Fellow funded by NHMRC as well as Chief Scientific Officer at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute. He has a strong track record in biomedical research with my main area of research being in the field of diabetes and its complications, in particular renal disease and atherosclerosis. He has over 500 peer reviewed publications which are highly cited (>25,000 citations, “h” factor >80, over last 4 years >2500 citations/year, Web of Science). He has also made original scientific contributions in the fields of progressive renal disease, the renin-angiotensin system, metabolic memory and the biochemical process of advanced glycation as well as being involved in a senior capacity in landmark clinical trials in diabetic complications.

Professor Jamie Cooper has demonstrated outstanding leadership while managing an expansive portfolio of research in intensive care medicine and mentoring the next generation of clinician-scientists. In his multi-faceted career at Monash University and The Alfred, Professor Cooper has played significant leadership roles as clinician, researcher, educator and mentor. Under his leadership, the ANZIC Research Centre at Monash University has earned an international reputation for training critical care specialists in the methodology and execution of world-class research and multi-centre trials. His research has challenged prevailing dogmas and led to improved patient outcomes and major financial savings to the Australian healthcare system.