GREAT

MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN
RESEARCH
TEN
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN
RESEARCH
TEN
© Australian Government 2007

Paper-based publication
This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process
without written permission from the Commonwealth available from the Attorney-General’s Department. Requests and inquiries
concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’s
Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Canberra, ACT, 2600 or posted at: http://www.ag.gov.au/cca.

ISBN Print: 1864964448

© Australian Government 2007

Electronic documents
This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice)
for your personal, non-commercial use, or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright
Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests for further authorisation should be directed to the Commonwealth Copyright
Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Canberra, ACT, 2600 or posted
at: http://www.ag.gov.au/cca.

Online: 1864964502

To obtain information regarding NHMRC publications contact:

Email: nhmrc.publications@nhmrc.gov.au
Phone: Toll free 13 000 NHMRC (13 000 64672) or call 02 6217 9000
Internet: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au
 GREAT
MINDS in
AUSTRALIAN Ten of
RESEARCH the Best

Foreword
Today, thanks to Australian medical researchers, we live in a world were cochlear implants give sound where there was silence,
vaccines for cervical cancer exist and a glass of bacteria infested broth taught us that this bacteria can cause stomach ulcers.
As a medical researcher, it gives me a strong sense of pride to be part of a community which includes some of the greatest minds
in the world. Australian researchers are leading the way in the fight against many diseases including cancer, malaria and other
infectious diseases. The talent in this country is outstanding.
As the CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council, it gives me great pleasure to know that with the help
of our funding, the work of the men and women profiled on these pages will continue and keep Australia at the international
forefront of health and medical research.
The outstanding researchers profiled in 10 of the Best - Great minds in Australian research have effected change in health and
medical research in this country as well as internationally either through their groundbreaking research and their dedication
to research policy.
It is a privilege to be able to introduce you to these researchers who have such an important and largely unacknowledged role
in the health of every man, woman and child in our country. I feel humbled by the dedication, perseverance and talent of these
people who truly are among the greatest minds in health and medical research.

Professor Warwick Anderson, AM

Chief Executive Officer
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

SAM BERKOVIC – THE GENETICS OF EPILEPSY

Professor Sam Berkovic describes himself as ‘a clinical
neurologist with a special interest in epilepsy’ which may be the
understatement of the century. Professor Berkovic’s research has
in fact revealed new insights into the genetics of epilepsy and
has led to changes in patient management and new concepts
in the understanding of epilepsies.
His research was the first to prove that many types of epilepsy
have a significant genetic component and once he looked deeper
into the illness and discovered a number of new inherited
epilepsy syndromes which led to many more discoveries.
Some specific consequences of Professor Berkovic’s work
include more accurate diagnosis, treatment and counselling
of people with epilepsy. The hope now is to develop novel
therapeutic approaches.
“We’re focussing mainly on the genetic causes of epilepsy.
We’re hoping to understand the genes that underlie epilepsy, of
which we’ve already discovered quite a number, so we can then
“My boss at the time was very, very interested in epilepsy and
seemed to be doing things that weren’t written in the books
or that other people that I talked to didn’t seem to know about
and it just seemed incredibly interesting. I really got hooked
on it then.”
When asked what his primary motivation for being a researcher
is, Professor Berkovic gives an easy, one-word answer—
curiosity.
“It’s fun to find things out that other people haven’t figured out,
that sort of intellectual curiosity makes it easier to get up every
morning for sure but also as a clinical researcher you see
almost on a day to day basis the results of the work that you do.
That’s very rewarding.”

ONE
understand what the chain is between having an abnormal gene
and having epilepsy”, he said. “When we understand that chain
we will then be in a position to try and intervene and develop
better strategies for treatment.”
For as long as he can remember, Professor Berkovic wanted
to be a doctor. While in medical school he found himself more
and more interested in the human brain. His fascination with
epilepsy came from his first job as a neurology intern at the
Austin Hospital.
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

DOUG HILTON – SOLVING THE GENOMIC JIGSAW

Since the completion of the Human Genome Project—
an ambitious project which mapped all 25,000 genes in human
DNA— all the pieces of the Genetic jigsaw which make
up a human being have been identified so the key now
is to work out what all of these genes do and how they interact
to build a complete picture and potentially prevent or cure
some our most devastating diseases.
Leading the way in fitting this complex, and at times confusing
jigsaw together is Professor Doug Hilton from the Walter and
Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne. Looking very little like
a traditional scientist and more like an Mt Everest climbing
adventurer, Professor Hilton is broadly considered to be pioneer
in the field of haematological research.
His groundbreaking discoveries include how the body’s cells
communicate with each other and his current work, using the
rich source of information provided by gene mapping, may one
day lead to identifying the genes which maybe targeted to treat
Something that sets Professor Hilton apart is the fact that his
love of research is met squarely by his passion for nurturing and
encouraging young researchers.
“I would love to be remembered for making a really useful
contribution to treating diseases but also having a group
of young people who have been given an opportunity
to do research in my lab and who go on to do something even
more significant than I did. That would actually be more exciting
to me in some ways.”
Professor Hilton also cites being father to two young children
as really opening his eyes to enjoying seeing someone else
succeed as much as succeeding himself. Having children has also
made him look at his own career, appreciate his success and to
prioritise the important things in his life.
“I can’t see myself still doing this when I’m 75; I think we have
a finite period where we are really at the cutting edge. There
are other things I want to do, down the track I can see myself

TWO
many debilitating diseases.
contributing to science through consulting, policy development
Professor Hilton says, “With the genes that control blood cell and administration. There is also an element of getting out of the
development, the hope is that by understanding how blood way of younger researchers. I’m really passionate about moving
cells normally develop we can intervene in diseases like on and letting the next generation take up opportunities.”
leukaemia and arthritis.”
Although Professor Hilton’s research tends to focus on blood cell
diseases, the potential of his research is far reaching and may
one day spell and end to many other types of disease.
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

JOHN HOPPER – A MATHEMATICIAN WITH THE HEART

OF AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST
One would assume that the Director of the Centre for Genetic “There is a general belief that what dictates health
Epidemiology and Australian Twin Registry who is also is an interaction between your genetic make-up and your
on the editorial boards of Genetic Epidemiology and Journal of environment.”
Epidemiology and Biostatistics along with heading up the research
Professor Hopper’s research has redefined how epidemiological
team which introduced the concept of using the families in
studies are conducted. In the early 1990’s, along with
large cohorts to the leading research organisation in the world,
Graham Giles and Margaret McReady, Professor Hopper set
the National Institute of Health in America, would be one of
up what was called case/control/family studies where they
Australia’s leading epidemiologists. But, you would be wrong.
identified cases from the cancer registry and controls from the
Professor John Hopper is in fact, primarily, a mathematician and electoral role, establishing the concept of using a ‘control family’.
statistician. After completing his PhD in mathematical statistics,
“The population based case control family studies are the way
he found that creating statistical models for epidemiological
of doing epidemiology in the future. If you only study the
studies wasn’t quite as fulfilling as it could be. So, following
families with lots of cases of a particular disease, you end
in the footsteps of one of his heroes, Malcolm Pike, he went
up with a very biased picture of the genetics. Using control
on to cross the invisible line to become a world leading
families, you get a different view.”
researcher in genetic epidemiology although he doesn’t consider
himself to be either an epidemiologist or a geneticist. The view his team did get caused backlash amongst the scientific
community. By putting the genetics into a population based

REE
“I’ve found that my background of coming from outside a lab

H
perspective, instead of saying that the lifetime risk of people
has actually been an advantage. I have no preconceived ideas,

T
with these mutations was around 80 – 90%, their studies showed
the information for me is in the data and I’m quite happy
it was actually about half of that. Professor Hoppers research was
to be proven wrong”, he said.
proved to be right.
“What you learn from mathematics is the process of logical
“It took balls to set up these studies, we got a little bruised and
thinking. Scientists have a reputation for being boffins that know
battered in the process but in the end its about using correct
and remember everything; my attitude is that I will become
data. Let the data speak for itself”.
an expert when you put the data in front of me!”
Professor Hopper’s current population based studies looks
at genes and the environment together in breast cancer, bowel
cancer, and prostate cancer.
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

TONY MCMICHAEL – UNLOCKING THE CLIMATE CHANGE PUZZLE

Epidemiologists, by their very definition, set about detecting
the source and cause of disease in populations. These ‘puzzle-
masters’ continually look at health through a wide-angle lens,
and their ideas then go on to influence other areas of research
and inform policy. For Professor Tony McMichael, his research
into the effects of environmental change on human health could
not only have the potential to influence our health, it could
also help preserve our very existence.
During the late 1980’s it became increasingly clear to Professor
McMichael that the emerging evidence of new, global,
environmental changes—such as the then-controversial
Greenhouse Effect—posed very real and very significant
risks to human health.
“We are effectively changing the climate on the planet, which
in turn has a huge impact on its life support systems. Much
of the risk to health lies in the future, as this now-inexorable
process gathers momentum for at least the next several decades,”
Although described as a pioneer and a visionary, Professor
McMichael prefers to think of himself as researcher just trying
to better understand the population health consequences
of the ‘increasing interconnectedness and intensity of the human
endeavour’.
“Research without the application of findings may as well
not be done. The immediate application of much research
is to advance the methods of science itself. However,
epidemiological research is never very far from the community
front-line. We do our research to understand and eliminate the
causes of disease.”
When the cause of disease appears to be us, Professor
McMichael certainly has a huge task ahead. But after speaking
with the quietly spoken man for even a few minutes and seeing
first-hand the steely determination of a man with a mission—
whose research on lead exposure and child intellectual
development directly influenced the decision to phase out

U
he says. leaded petrol in Australia—you get the impression that, if anyone

F O R
The challenge now for Professor McMichael is threefold –
to understand better how climatic conditions affect human
health; to detect the emerging impacts of climate change
on health; and to estimate the likely future impacts.
can do it, Professor Tony McMichael will.

“We need to take localised action to lessen adverse health

impacts – and, more importantly, this new awareness that human
health is at risk underscores the profound significance of human-
induced climate change. Since it endangers biological processes
and the planet’s life-support system, the world community must
now reduce greenhouse gas emissions quickly and substantially.”
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST
ROBERT NORMAN – CHANGING THE FACE OF FERTILITY
Young, healthy people take it for granted that when they are
ready to have a baby it will be an easy and simple goal
to achieve once they cease contraception. The reality for
around 10-15 per cent of couples is quite different. Infertility
can be a devastating blow to a couple wanting a child and
up until around thirty years ago, if this was the hand you were
dealt then your only options were adoption or childlessness.
Modern science has changed that for many couples thanks
to advances in Assisted Reproductive Technologies such as IVF.
Professor Robert Norman, an obstetrician-gynaecologist and
reproductive medicine specialist warns against believing that
IVF is a cure all for infertility.
“IVF has limitations; it is not a perfect process suitable for
everyone and it is being overused. There are a number
of fundamental factors that affect fertility which aren’t being
addressed such as lifestyle, smoking, obesity or delaying
pregnancy until a late reproductive age. These are all things
FIVE
than can be resolved without high-tech, expensive medicine.”
A tall and gentle man with the last traces of a Rhodesian
accent, Professor Norman is a pioneer in fertility techniques.
His laboratory is responsible for refining and promoting
the single embryo implantation technique and introducing
pioneering quality management techniques. Previously, several
embryos were implanted to give the best odds of a pregnancy
however the result was often twins or triplets. Through his
team’s research, pregnancies are now being achieved through
the implantation of a single embryo in more than 85% of cycles.
“For women under the age of 38 over 98% of our embryo
transfers are one embryo which results in a healthier baby
who doesn’t need to be in intensive care.”
Professor Norman credits his first class lab and a team
of young, dynamic researchers with changing the practices
of IVF throughout Australia. His current research delves deeper
into the earliest stages of life, factors affecting fertility and links
to the early origins of disease which has led to his introduction
of pioneering lifestyle programs to combat the adverse effects
of obesity on infertility and pregnancy complications.
“I truly hope that the future for IVF is that it is used less! What
I would like to see is a situation where people are assessed
properly, using evidence based methods based on research.
That there is lifestyle modifications appropriate to their condition
and that includes existing health pathways within the Australian
medical system but also new ones that can be developed
through research.”
But, says Professor Norman, for those whom lifestyle change has
failed or isn’t appropriate, he wants to see a very high quality
IVF system which produces a single baby with minimal financial
and emotional distress to the couple. Professor Normans research
is well and truly on the path the achieving this.
“I’m a person who thinks several years ahead. Often people like
me stumble because they are so intent on looking forward that
they don’t see the rocks at their feet. But I think as I get older
I realise its not just high profile clinical work with advanced
technology that makes a difference, its getting amongst people
with evidence based knowledge that allows them to change
things themselves. When that fails, our interventions must
be appropriate and with a long term view.”
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

ROBYN O’HEHIR – EFFICIENCY PERSONIFIED

Being in the presence of someone whose list of achievements
includes holding the first and only Professorship in Allergy
and Clinical Immunology in adult medicine can be somewhat
intimidating. When you meet Professor Robyn O’Hehir in person,
however, any preconceived notions about what an academic
and clinician of her calibre should be like immediately fly out
the window.
Upon meeting Professor O’Hehir you are immediately struck
by how warm and welcoming she is. It is easy to picture this
outstanding researcher as a clinician with a keen interest in her
patients, which is exactly what she is.
Describing herself as a clinician first and foremost, Professor
O’Hehir says that while the science is fascinating, the additional
human element is what makes it all real for her.
“As a young doctor I can remember resuscitating young adults
from respiratory arrest due to severe untreated asthma who
then went on to return to confident, full lives. Some are still
As the first scientist to isolate stable human white blood cell
populations from allergic patients that recognise house dust mite
allergens, Professor O’Hehir’s research has led her to explore
novel methods for ‘switching off’ allergic reactions which may
mean an end to life threatening anaphylaxis.
Along with her research and her clinical commitments,
Professor O’Hehir finds the time to mentor other women
entering the demanding field of clinical research.
“As one of the few female Professors of Medicine in Australia,
I try to provide a role model for the many excellent women
entering medicine. Being a woman and a scientist isn’t easy,
finding a balance between your scientific life and your personal
life. I’m lucky, I have a fantastic support team in my husband
along with a fully equipped home office which makes it
possible,” she said, “If I can offer advice to other women trying
to find that balance then it’s my pleasure to do so.”
To describe Professor O’Hehir is easy; a brilliant scientist,

SIX
my patients today, and it’s seeing these patients live full lives a caring doctor, a loving mother, and a mentor—truly
with the help of medication and education that makes it all an extraordinary woman indeed.
worth it.”
An allergy and respiratory medicine specialist, Professor
O’Hehir’s current research is working to develop allergen
immunotherapy vaccines for the prevention of peanut and other
serious environmental allergies.
“Allergen immunotherapy is the only treatment that can prevent
allergic diseases. We are currently identifying the critical peanut
proteins that might induce tolerance to peanut in allergic patients
without risking an allergic reaction.”
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

JAMES PATON – THE ACCIDENTAL MICROBIOLOGIST

Being described as one of the leading international figures
in microbiology research amuses Professor James Paton for the
simple fact that he is probably the only researcher in the field
not to have studied the subject as an undergraduate. Although
he may not have initially considered a career in the area as a
young student, Professor Paton has gone on to become one of
the worlds most respected and recognised researchers leading
the fight against one of the biggest bacterial killers on the planet,
pneumococcus.
Responsible for causing pneumonia and meningitis,
pneumococcus, like a number of other bacteria, is becoming
resistant to current antibiotics. Professor Paton and his team
from the University of Adelaide are currently working on the
development of a vaccine for this too often deadly micro-
organism.
While other vaccines already exist for pneumococcus, they are
of limited scope or are extremely expensive, which puts them
“There were advantages in doing research in the hospital
environment where you had your research laboratory juxtaposed
to a clinical diagnostic service laboratory and it gave you a real
feel for what were the important causes of disease” he said.
Professor Paton knew quite early on that research was going
to be his field of choice.
“My family background is scientific, my mother was an early
biochemist and my father built scientific equipment, some
of which is still in my lab!”
“I wondered about whether I should do medicine, but opted for
science because I would rather be discovering and developing
the drug than implementing someone else’s discovery.”
Professor Paton’s wife, Dr. Adrienne Paton, is also a highly
respected researcher however that is where the family business
ends. Their four children have pursued careers in music/
teaching, accounting and the law.

VEN
out of reach of most third world countries where the need
“I think Adrienne and I have bored them witless by talking shop

E
is greatest. Professor Paton’s vaccine, once it is through final
at home!”

S
clinical testing, will be able to be made for a couple of dollars a
dose which makes it accessible to the most at risk communities.
“I’ll die a happy man if we can have an impact on the incidence
of this disease in young and vulnerable children, not only in
Australia but in countries that can’t afford modern drugs.”
Professor Paton became interested in pneumococcus in 1982
while working at what was then the Adelaide Children’s Hospital
in a diagnostic microbiology role—a position Professor Paton still
wonders how he got—where he found that being in a hospital
environment gave him first-hand insight into the effects
of bacterial infections on patients.
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

PETER SLY – THE GLOVES ARE OFF ON ASTHMA

Heading up the clinical sciences division of one of Australia’s
most prestigious research institutions, being able to lay claim
to an NHMRC Research Fellowship, and owning the title
of Director Clinical Research and Education at a well known
children’s hospital are notations on the resume that most
scientists would be proud to add.
Clinician and researcher Professor Peter Sly from the Telethon
Institute for Health Research is indeed proud of his achievements
but sees them more as a by product of his true achievements
which is research that has made a significant difference to the
lives of children suffering from cystic fibrosis and asthma.
Professor Sly is part of a team that has established the first true
primary prevention study of asthma in the world.
“Understanding the mechanisms of this disease in order
to prevent it is the ultimate goal of our work because with
asthma there has been nothing new on the horizon for asthma
treatments in the past 20 years and there’s not likely to be. The
Completing his training at the Royal Children’s hospital
in Melbourne, Professor Sly also discovered an interest
in respiratory medicine, an interest that has led him to being one
of the most respected asthma and cystic fibrosis researchers in
the world.
Despite being responsible for work that has changed the way
asthma and other diseases are managed, he doesn’t compare
himself to other high achieving and well recognised peers.
He is quick to point out the world is different from the time
of the McFarlane Burnetts and Howard Florey’s, researchers
of his generation won’t be remembered in the same way but
you get the impression that it doesn’t bother him one bit.
This is a man who is less interested in journal publications and
more interested in just doing the work.
“When I first started in research my mum would ring up and
ask, ‘have you discovered anything yet’ and I would have to say
‘no mum, it doesn’t work like that!’”, he recalls with a chuckle.

G HT
current treatments are effective in most cases but what we are To a man like Peter Sly, the measure of success doesn’t come

E I
aiming to do is prevent it occurring to begin with.”
During his medical rotation, Professor Sly found that paediatrics
was the field that really interested him, not only for the
from how many journals his name appears in, it comes from
seeing a child that he has helped live a better life through
his research.
complexity of the diseases that children face but also because “My simplistic hope for all of my work is to eventually prevent
of the children themselves. kids from getting asthma, and to one day stop the progression
of the lung destruction that is at the moment inevitable in kids
“Paediatrics was an easy choice for me because of the
with cystic fibrosis, and I really do think we’re on the right track
genuineness of kids—you can walk up to a kid in hospital and
to do it.”
ask how they are and the answer is always ‘good’ no matter how
ill they actually are. If you ask an adult the same question you’d
better have an hour to spare for the answer.”
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

DAVID VAUX – TAMING THE MISBEHAVING GENES

History tells us that most groundbreaking research, the work that
challenges previously held conventions and changes the face
of health, happens rarely. Only a handful of scientists in the
world can lay claim to work that forces a new school of thought
on an issue that has long been believed already settled.
Amongst this elite group is Australia’s Professor David Vaux
along with his colleagues whose pioneering research challenged
the conventional belief that cancers arise because their cells
divide more rapidly than normal. He found instead that cancer
could also be caused by cells failing to die.
“Our bodies have something like a million billion cells,” he said.
“Every second of every day a million kill themselves, which
balances the million cells that are produced every second. If cell
death fails to occur, it can lead to the development of diseases
such as cancer.”
This discovery fundamentally altered the scientific view of how
cancers arise and has led Professor Vaux to now study a family
“I’ve been very lucky. I’m fortunate enough to do a job that
I love. Every day, researchers like me get to come into the lab
and have the chance of finding something new that has not been
seen by anyone ever before.”
Professor Vaux’s love of science extends beyond his own
research. Two years ago he noticed that many papers in a well
known journal had graphs that didn’t explain their error bars,
making the data impossible to interpret. To Professor Vaux,
this was a sign that something had gone badly wrong with the
quality control of scientific publications.
“I guess you could say one of my hobbies is trying to improve
the quality of data in publications. Science is the only way of
obtaining new knowledge, but it will progress more rapidly,
and with less false leads, if the standards are lifted .”
As well as giving the usual research presentations, Professor
Vaux says he is on a mission to improve the quality of scientific
data being published. He makes time in his already packed diary

I
N EN
of cell death inhibitors known as inhibitors of apoptosis proteins to give lectures on the presentation and interpretation of data
(IAPs). These proteins may be another target in the battle against in scientific publications to researchers from Cambridge in the
cancer. UK to the Mayo Clinic and Cold Spring Harbor Labs in the US.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed that the human trials of a drug
that inhibits IAPs will show it can kill cancer cells and doesn’t
seem to have any major toxic side effects.”
Listening to Professor Vaux animatedly describe his research
it is easy to see that this is a man who isn’t doing the job for
glory, this is a man who is in love with science and despite
being widely lauded and world renowned, is still a basic scientist
at heart.
 GREAT
MINDS IN
AUSTRALIAN TEN OF
RESEARCH THE BEST

PROFESSOR JUDITH WHITWORTH – FIERCELY DETERMINED

Health and medical research is a demanding and challenging
career. Successes are met in equal measure by failures and the
often elusive answer to a question is rarely black and white.
To be a researcher is to commit yourself to a career that may
offer frustration in place of financial reward. For some it isn’t
a career choice, it is a calling.
Such is the case with Professor Judith Whitworth AC, Director
and Howard Florey Professor of Medical Research at The John
Curtin School of Medical Research. To look into the exact and
measuring gaze of this woman is to truly understand fierce
determination. Overcoming childhood polio, Judith Whitworth
decided as a young girl to marry her love of science with her
fascination with all of the staff she watched during her long stays
in hospital.
A highly respected doctor, researcher and medical administrator,
Professor Whitworth’s contribution to all three fields has been
outstanding and her leadership in these fields recognised when
she was made a Companion in the Order of Australia Medal
in 2001.
Professor Whitworth’s stunning research career is highlighted
with outstanding achievements including major discoveries in the
area of hypertension.
“I am delighted that the recent research we have done
which has, essentially, overturned conventional dogma that
glucocorticoid hormones raise blood pressure through salt and
water retention”, she said.
Professor Whitworth’s work showed instead that reduced
availability of vasodilating nitric oxide is a main cause. This
research will pave the way for the development of new synthetic
steroids—an essential treatment for a wide range of clinical
conditions.
Alongside her illustrious research career, one of Professor
Whitworth’s main areas of interest is health policy research.
Her work has directly influenced the development of policy for
health and medical research in Australia and internationally.
“I’m excited that we have unraveled the causes of glucocorticoid
hypertension but I’m also very pleased that we now have

TEN
research firmly on the agenda of the World Health Assembly.”
As the former Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, a practising
medical doctor and a pioneer in the field of hypertension For a woman of such immense achievement, Professor
research, Professor Whitworth’s achievements go beyond most. Whitworth isn’t comfortable with talking about herself, preferring
instead to let the focus stay on her work—and her body of work
Her love of science led Professor Whitworth easily into a
speaks for itself. The determination and brilliance of this woman
career as a researcher. During a stint as a resident at the Royal
has truly made a difference on the future of our health.
Melbourne Hospital, Professor Whitworth was allocated a term
in the clinical research unit attached to the Walter and Eliza Hall
Institute under Dr Ian Mackay who was responsible for lighting
the fire of interest in research in someone who had originally
intended a career as a clinical nephrologist.
WORKING TO BUILD A HEALTHY AUSTRALIA
www.nhmrc.gov.au