Double the honours for Professor Doug Hilton

Cancer researcher Professor Doug Hilton, director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) and president of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), was the recipient of two significant awards this month.

On 27 June, Professor Hilton won The Curtin Medal for Excellence in Medical Research, awarded annually to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to medical science. The honour was presented by The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) at The Australian National University (ANU) and recognised Professor Hilton’s research discoveries in the field of immunology, his championing of gender equity in science and his advocacy for public funding of medical research in Australia.

The award came just two weeks after Professor Hilton made the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, becoming one of 125 Officers of the Order of Australia (AO) announced in 2016. The appointment recognised Professor Hilton’s service to medical research, his advocacy for gender equity and his commitment to supporting young researchers.

Professor Hilton’s work has spanned from basic research to innovative development. He has a personal connection to the JCSMR, having spent time there as an undergraduate investigating the properties of blood cells in the lab of Professor Ian Young. Since then, his research achievements have included discovering hormones and pathways used by cells to communicate with each other.

Professor Hilton was the director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Cellular Growth Factors for five years and the co-founder of biotechnology company MuriGen Therapeutics. He has spearheaded collaborations with international and Australian biopharmaceutical companies.

As director of WEHI, Professor Hilton has championed initiatives to redress gender imbalance at senior levels of medical research, including:

• the establishment of fellowships for female faculty at the institute;
• implementation of policies requiring equal representation of men and women as speakers at institute events;
• assistance for women scientists with young children including provision of maternity leave cover, contract extensions and childcare support; and
• ensuring workplace flexibility for people with carer responsibilities.

Speaking about the Queen’s Birthday Honour, Professor Hilton said he felt humbled to receive the award.

“As a high school or university student, I could not have imagined that research would be such a wonderful journey,” he said. “It has been amazing to work with so many brilliant and passionate people — my mentors, my peers and many younger scientists. The ability to follow your curiosity but also work to improve the health, economy and innovative spirit of the country is a great privilege.”