2017 Australian of the Year regenerates interest in biomedical science

Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim was announced as 2017 Australian of the Year on Wednesday, bringing his work in stem cell research and regenerative medicine to the forefront of Australian science.

Professor Mackay-Sim served as director of the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research at Griffith University until his retirement in 2015. There, he pursued his career-long study of the sense of smell — a field that no one else in Australia appeared to be touching, he claimed.

“My research interests have come from a basic understanding of how the nerve cells in the nose get regenerated,” Professor Mackay-Sim said. “So we have in our noses sensory neurons, which have to be regenerated throughout life because what we breathe in kills them, and so within there there’s stem cells that lead to their regeneration and replacement, so that our sense of smell continues throughout our lives. I’ve been using that kind of regenerative process to apply to spinal cord injury.”

Professor Mackay-Sim’s work has gone on to have a significant impact worldwide, playing a vital part in the surgery that restored mobility to Polish quadriplegic Darek Fidyka in 2014. Olfactory ensheathing cells from Fidyka’s nose were injected above and below where his spinal cord had been severed, while nerves from his ankle were used to bridge the scar tissue. The surgery’s success made Fidyka the first quadriplegic in the world to recover mobility after the complete severing of the spinal nerves.

“His work has allowed scientists around the world to continue working on a therapy which is now shown to be successful in humans,” said Dr James St John from Griffith University. “So his work is crucial for what has been achieved by scientists worldwide.”

“Some of the work he’s done is the best in the world for this field, for curing paralysis,” added quadriplegic philanthropist Perry Cross. “There’s now light at the end of the tunnel for a cure for paralysis.”

Professor Mackay-Sim used his acceptance speech to emphasise the importance of investment in science, stating that “we must, as Australians, prioritise our spending so that we can afford not only to look after the disabled and the diseased in our community, but also… research for new and radical treatments that will reduce future health costs”.

“As a nation, we must be part of this, and we must invest in our scientists and give them great careers,” Professor Mackay-Sim said. “Researchers need a long view — much longer than the political horizon.”

Newly appointed Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Arthur Sinodinos has since congratulated Professor Mackay-Sim and indicated that his appeals have been heard.

“He is right to remind us to take the long view when it comes to research and the need to invest in new treatments that reduce future health costs for all Australians,” Sinodinos said.

“I am committed to building world-class careers for our young scientists and addressing the barriers to all Australians, regardless of background or gender, wanting to play a part in the future of scientific research in Australia.”

Professor Mackay-Sim will spend the next year fulfilling his duties as Australian of the Year while still overseeing several research projects at the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, including stem cell research into treatments for conditions such as schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP).

Pictured: Professor Mackay-Sim and his ‘personal object’ on display at the Australian National Museum in an exhibition for the Australian of the Year awards.