Media Release

Skin gene researchers wins Premier's Award for Medical Research

9 June 2005  
 
Gene researcher Dr Stephen Ting, from the Rotary Bone Marrow Research Laboratories at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, has won the 2005 Premier's Award for Medical Research.

The prestigious prize was awarded jointly for the first time, to Dr Ting and Dr Merlin Thomas, from the Baker Heart Research Institute, for his work on diabetes.

The Premier, Steve Bracks, presented each researcher with a $16,000 award at a ceremony held at Government House in June.

'This is the first time two winners have shared the top prize and the calibre of their research is outstanding,' Mr Bracks said.

'� Dr Ting's research could help to improve wound healing and treatment of skin conditions such as ulcers and burns � (and) could significantly improve the lives of many people, reinforcing Victoria's reputation as a pioneer in medical research.

'Dr Ting's discovery of a gene in mice responsible for spina bifida was groundbreaking but he had taken it a step further by finding the same gene is implicated in skin barrier formation and tissue repair.

'These findings could pave the way for real treatment advances in assisting premature babies at risk of bacterial infection because of a lack of developed skin, and improving wound repair to help treat conditions such as skin ulcers,' Mr Bracks said.

The Rotary Bone Marrow Research Laboratories and Baker Institute were presented with $30,000 each from the Jack and Robert Smorgon Families Award, as the department or institute where the Premier's Award-winning research was undertaken.

RMH also featured strongly at last year's awards. RMH cardiology researcher Dr Prash Sanders received a highly commended award for his work on atrial fibrillation.

This is the eleventh year of the awards, presented to gifted and committed early career Victorian medical researchers.

The awards, made in conjunction with the Australian Society for Medical Research, recognise the exceptional achievements of these postgraduate scholars whose work is further enhancing Victoria's leading role in medical research.

Dr Ting said: 'It was a great honour and privilege to be a recipient of the Premier's Award, which is a reflection of the success created by members of the Rotary Bone Marrow Research Laboratories, headed by Dr Stephen Jane. I thank the Victorian government and the Smorgon families for their generosity and support of medical research in Victoria.

'As a physician, I embarked on, and continue research because I feel this is the century where ongoing discoveries at the molecular cell level will result in major therapeutic advancements in medicine.'