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Melbourne researcher wins $1 million

Wednesday November 22, 2006

A Melbourne researcher has been awarded $1 million in funding to carry out biomedical research in Australia.

Dr Stephen Turner is a lecturer and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) RD Wright Research Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne.

The Pfizer Australia Fellowships fund research over five years and were presented by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Christopher Pyne, and Nobel Laureate, Dr Robin Warren, in Sydney today.

Dr Turner’s research interests involve the study of how a subset of white blood cells (called killer T cells), recognise and remove infected cells from an individual. A special interest is how immune memory is generated and how this can protect an individual against infection.

His research has implications for improving vaccine strategies for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, pandemic influenza, malaria and some types of cancer.

Since the Pfizer Australia Research Fellowships were established in 2003, Pfizer Australia has allocated $11 million in funding to Australian scientists.

Pfizer Australia Research Fellowships aim to encourage leaders in biomedical research to establish a career in Australia, fostering the continued development of Australia as a source of world-class scientific innovation and ideas.

Only two have been awarded this year, the other going to Queenslander Dr Denise Doolan who is researching malaria.

Pfizer Australia senior medical director Dr Bill Ketelbey said the Fellowships support the development of the Australian scientific community and innovative research projects.

“Australia has benefited significantly from having a strong and internationally competitive scientific community,” Dr Bill Ketelbey said.

“Continued investment in this valuable resource is essential to the future progress of Australian research.

“The Pfizer Australia Research Fellowship invests in Australian science by providing grants to outstanding young biomedical scientists so they may commit to a research career locally.

“The Fellowships are awarded to individual scientists of demonstrated capability, with significant future potential to attain leadership in their chosen field of research.”

The 2007 Pfizer Australia Fellows join nine other Pfizer Australia Pfizer Fellows who are undertaking research in Australia.

The Fellowships allow successful applicants to continue their program of research at an Australian university or research institution, by providing a five-year grant covering salary, travel and other establishment costs.

Winners are selected by an independent panel of eminent Australian medical researchers.

Pfizer Australia is the nation’s leading research-based health care company. It discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical treatments for both humans and animals. Pfizer Australia is investing more than $45 million in local research and development. For more information visit the links on this website.