The 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer, will tonight receive a further honour, the Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research.
The Medal recognises his work that contributed to the development of the world’s first cervical cancer vaccines.
The Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser AC will present Professor Frazer with the Medal which carries an award of $50,000 at the annual Ramaciotti Awards ceremony to be held tonight in Melbourne.
Professor Frazer is the director of The University of Queensland’s Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine.
"Professor Ian Frazer has dedicated his life to eradicating the global impact of cervical cancer," the Head of Perpetual’s Philanthropic Services, David Knowles, said.
"On behalf of the Ramaciotti Foundations we are excited to be able to continue to support the ground-breaking work that led to the development of the cervical cancer the vaccines."
The award of $50,000 will assist the next stage of Professor Frazer’s work as he looks to develop better delivery methods for the vaccines, particularly in developing countries.
"I’m honoured to receive this recognition of my work from the Ramaciotti Foundations," Professor Frazer said.
"But what it really means for us is more money to help with the research program, where we are now trying to develop better strategies for delivering the vaccines in order to make a real impact on the global prevalence of this devastating disease."
Cervical cancer is a global health problem which affects women of all ages. It currently accounts for the death of more than a quarter of a million women each year, the majority of whom are in the developing world.
The Ramaciotti Foundations, a major private contributor to medical research in Australia that has distributed more than $45 million to biomedical research since its establishment in 1970, played a significant role in the development of the Gardasil vaccine.
"The initial funding I received from the Ramaciotti Foundations in the late 1980s and early 1990s came at exactly the right time as we were just getting the vaccine project off the ground - it helped us to buy the equipment necessary to get the work done," Professor Frazer said.
"The Ramaciotti money was special in the sense that it tends to be given for new investigators getting something off the ground when it’s exciting, and that’s exactly how it was for us."
Professor Frazer will receive the Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research at the annual Ramaciotti Awards dinner to be held in Melbourne tonight. He is available for interviews today.
About the Ramaciotti Foundations
The Ramaciotti Foundations are collectively one of the largest private contributors to biomedical research in Australia having granted more than $45 million to research projects since 1970.
Managed by Perpetual Trustee Company Limited, The Foundations began with $6.7 million with the first major grant going to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 1971. This assisted with the establishment of a new building called the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Research Laboratories.
Since then, the Foundations have donated more than $45 million to biomedical research and are one of the largest contributors to the field. Their combined capital now stands at over $65 million – a significant amount considering they began with only $6.7 million.
The Ramaciotti Foundations continue to support biomedical research and each year make significant distributions via the Ramaciotti Awards, providing assistance to areas such as molecular biology, genetics and immunology.
About the Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research
The Ramaciotti Medal carries an award of $50, 000. Medal winners must have made an outstanding contribution to clinical or biomedical research, or the way in which healthcare is delivered. To win the Ramaciotti Medal, the nominee must have previously received support from the Ramaciotti Foundations. The greater part of the world leading to discovery must have been conducted in Australia and the nominee must still be actively engaged in research.
High profile past winners include Professor Sam Berkovic, Professor Chris Parish, Professor Thomas Martin and Professor Robert Baxter.
About the Diamantina Institute
The University of Queensland’s Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine is a medical research institute based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane and is headed by Professor Ian Frazer. The aim of the Institute is to develop a better understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of disease, and to translate that understanding into practical outcomes for patients for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and arthritis.
Media enquiries: Ellie Papathanasiou from Buchan Consulting (0405 342 490), Tim Scott from Perpetual Limited (0429 169 447) or Danielle Fischer from the Diamantina Institute (07 3240 6623).
