“The status of a Learned Academy will ensure we are able to serve the nation in bringing scientific evidence from health and medical research to bear on pressing national issues, and help grow and inspire the next generation of Australian research and innovation leaders.”– AAHMS President Professor Ingrid Scheffer.
Welcome to our July newsletter. In this edition:
- AAHMS a Learned Academy
- MJA article – AAHMS
- Queen’s Birthday Honours
- Victoria’s new mRNA Scientific Advisory Group
- NHMRC research awards
- Victorian LACS event – 31 July
- Fellows in the news
AAHMS has been formally recognised as one of Australia’s five Learned Academies supported through the Higher Education Support Act. This recognition secures the Academy’s future and highlights the relevance, quality and value of the Academy’s work to the Australian community. AAHMS now joins the Australian Council of Learned Academies as a full member, after joining as an associate member in 2020. News of our Learned Academy status was covered in The Australian print and digital edition, and Campus Morning Mail.
Medical Journal of Australia article
Academy President Professor Ingrid Scheffer and Inaugural President Professor Ian Frazer co-authored a piece for MJA Perspectives, highlighting AAHMS’ goals and history.
Congratulations to the ten Academy Fellows who were recognised in this year’s Queens Birthday Honours. Professors Adrian Bauman, Stephen Davis, Paul Glasziou, Carol Pollock and Richard Scolyer were appointed Officers of the Order of Australia. Dr David Durrheim and Professors Flavia Cicuttini, Kylie Ball,Christopher Del Mar and Helena Teede were appointed Members of the Order of Australia.
New mRNA Scientific Advisory Group
Academy Fellows continue to be integral to the nation’s pandemic response, contributing their wealth of expertise and knowledge in a range of advisory and research roles. Recently Victoria announced a new mRNA Scientific Advisory Group which includes five Academy Fellows: Professors Sharon Lewin, Brendan Crabb, Doug Hilton, Terry Nolan and Andrew Steer. Many other Fellows are also providing advice to governments, working on research, leading trials, and guiding public messaging to help keep Australians safe.
NHMRC research awards
Four Academy Fellows have been recognised by the NHMRC with research awards: Professors Don McManus, Sarah Robertson, Karen Canfell, and Ian Alexander. Fellows Professor Sharon Lewin and Professor Ian Olver received 2021 Biennial Awards. Learn about their inspiring work on the NHMRC awards page.
Victorian LACS event – 31 July
Register now for our upcoming 6th Victorian Life as a Clinician-Scientist (LACS) symposium, to be held at Monash University on 31 July 2021. There are in-person and online attendance options, allowing us to be accessible to a national audience, and pivot to a fully online event should COVID-19 restrictions change again.
-
- Academy Fellow Professor Brendan Crabb has been educating the public on COVID-19 and vaccination importance in an interview with The Australian, and an article in The New Daily as well as appearances on ABC News and Radio National.
- Professor Crabb and Fellow Professor Margaret Hellard also spoke on new COVID-19 modelling from the Burnet Institute. Professor Hellard was interviewed on Coronacast.
- Associate Professor Margie Danchin, an Academy Associate Member, discussed lockdowns and the future of COVID-19 with the ABC.
- The New England Journal of Medicine covered a major milestone for the World Mosquito Program, releasing results of the efficacy of Wolbachia-infected mosquito deployments for the control of dengue. Academy Fellow Professor Cameron Simmons was principal investigator.
- Nature published new HIV research from Academy Fellows Professor Jennifer Hoy, Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson and Professor Mark Dawson.
- Officer of the Order of Australia recipient Professor Richard Scolyer was featured in The Examiner and on ABC’s RN Breakfast.
- Academy Fellow Professor Ian Hickie has launched a podcast focusing on mental health, called Minding Your Mind.
- The Australian published a special report on Fellow Professor Michelle Haber’s precision medicine and cancer work.
- Fellow Professor Helen Marshall was featured in a report on a University of Adelaide-led vaccination public health study, also published in The Australian.
- Academy Fellow Professor Sharon Lewin discusses the use of rapid antigen COVID-19 tests with the ABC.