Professor Sean Grimmond awarded AAHMS Fellowship

Professor Sean Grimmond, Bertalli Chair in Cancer and Director of the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, has been awarded an Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) Fellowship.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor Shitij Kapur, has also been recognised for his contributions to health and medical science with a Fellowship from the Academy, among 11 others from the University of Melbourne and partner institutions.

The 37 Fellows were appointed for their significant impact on the health and wellbeing of Australian and international populations, representing a diverse range of fields from immunology and genomics, to biomechanics, biostatistics and Indigenous health.

University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) James McCluskey welcomed the announcement of the Fellows and emphasised the strength of Australian medical research reflected in these appointments.

“I congratulate all those individuals who are at the core of finding new and better ways of treating diseases,” Professor McCluskey said. “The University is proud to support our key leaders and we acknowledge their tireless efforts, with all of them having excelled in their own fields in their unique ways.”

Professor Grimmond said: “It is an honour to be awarded this Fellowship for my work in precision oncology. I look forward to contributing to the Academy and its important work in the sector, providing support to our future leaders in health and medical research.”

Professor Grimmond’s work in cancer explores mutational signatures of DNA and their contributions to individual tumours, through rapid genomic analysis. His work offers exciting opportunities for cancer detection and surveillance, monitoring drug response and studying the evolution of chemo-resistance.

The Academy’s President, Professor Ian Frazer AC, said: “I am delighted to welcome these 37 outstanding researchers to the Academy’s Fellowship. Their diverse talents and expertise reflect the incredible breadth and depth of Australia’s world class health and medical research.

“We work with our Fellows to strengthen the health and medical research landscape in Australia. It is thanks to their expertise that we can play a valuable role in ensuring that Australia continues to address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.”

Professors Grimmond and Kapur are joining the likes of fellow 2018 awardee Professor Anne Kelso, CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council, and existing Fellows Professor Alan Finkel AO, Chief Scientist of Australia, Professor Kathryn North AM, Director of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and Professor Grant McArthur, Executive Director VCCC.