13 Oct 2023
Doherty Institute researcher one of six AAMRI Rising Star Award contenders
The University of Melbourne’s Professor Laura Mackay, Immunologist and Laboratory Head at the Doherty Institute, has been named among six finalists for the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) Rising Star Award.
Professor Mackay has been recognised for discovering a novel population of tissue-resident memory T cells that provide a dominant first-line defence against infection and cancer. This resulted in significant changes in immunity, vaccines, and cancer treatment using the immune system.
“This is an immense recognition of our research, which has contributed to a better understanding of the body's response to infection. I am thrilled and excited to be named among great and respectable scientists,” said Professor Mackay.
Professor Mackay has been at the forefront of research into tissue-resident memory T cells, resulting in prestigious journal publications and being listed as a Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate) annually since 2019. She has won multiple awards for her research excellence, leadership on international societies and boards, and mentoring and communicating science with local and global reach.
The AAMRI Rising Star Award, which CSL supports, has been created to recognise an outstanding mid-career researcher, an individual 8-15 years after completing their post-doctoral research.
CSL Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Andrew Nash, congratulated the six researchers.
“These exceptional medical researchers are driving advances in healthcare, from better understanding the basis of diseases to developing new therapies, which may ultimately lead to improved outcomes for patients. Well done to all the finalists,” he said.
Other finalists are drawn from the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, South Australian ImmunoGENomics Cancer Institute, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and the Burnet Institute.
AAMRI CEO Dr Saraid Billiards said the ‘calibre of the applications was humbling to read’.
“We wanted to find the individuals who will be leading and shaping the future of medical research, and there is no doubt we found them, she said.
The award, worth $35,000 cash, will be presented by the Honourable Mark Butler, Member of Parliament and Minister for Health and Aged Care, at the annual AAMRI Dinner at Parliament House on 18 October 2023.