Excellence in Biomedical Research Award for Prof Ian Frazer

The Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research has been awarded to UQ’s Professor Ian Frazer, recognising his work that contributed to the development of the world's first cervical cancer vaccines.

Professor Frazer is the director of The University of Queensland's Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine.

The award of $50,000 will assist the next stage of Professor Frazer's work as he looks to develop better delivery methods for the vaccines, particularly in developing countries.

"I'm honoured to receive this recognition of my work from the Ramaciotti Foundations," Professor Frazer said.

"But what it really means for us is more money to help with the research program, where we are now trying to develop better strategies for delivering the vaccines in order to make a real impact on the global prevalence of this devastating disease."

The Ramaciotti Foundations

The Ramaciotti Foundations are collectively one of the largest private contributors to biomedical research in Australia, having granted more than $45 million to research projects since 1970.

Managed by Perpetual Trustee Company Limited, The Foundations began with $6.7 million with the first major grant going to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 1971. This assisted with the establishment of a new building called the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Research Laboratories.

Since then, the Foundations have donated more than $45 million to biomedical research and are one of the largest contributors to the field. Their combined capital now stands at over $65 million — a significant amount considering they began with only $6.7 million.

The Ramaciotti Foundations continue to support biomedical research and each year make significant distributions via the Ramaciotti Awards, providing assistance to areas such as molecular biology, genetics and immunology.

The Ramaciotti Medal carries an award of $50,000. Medal winners must have made an outstanding contribution to clinical or biomedical research, or the way in which healthcare is delivered. To win the Ramaciotti Medal, the nominee must have previously received support from the Ramaciotti Foundations. The greater part of the work leading to discovery must have been conducted in Australia and the nominee must still be actively engaged in research.