Following the annual Alfred Health Week Research Day keynote address, the 2019 Alfred Research Alliance Research prizes were presented by Prof Ricky Johnstone, Executive Director, Cancer Research & Head Gene Regulation Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
The Awards recognise the excellence of published research articles by researchers at the Alfred Research Alliance. They are awarded annually for the best journal articles about original research – both basic and clinical – led by researchers based at the Alfred precinct as part of the Alfred Research Alliance. Awards are based on the impact factor of the journal, and this year saw multiple awards in both categories.
Dr Dragana Dragolievic from Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, took out the first Basic Research Prize, for an article in the European Heart Journal on her team’s project, Defective Cholesterol Metabolism in Haematopoietic Stem Cells Promotes Monocyte-Driven Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The second award in the Basic Research category went to Dr Melanie Zeigler, also from Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, who was recognised for her article A Single-Chain Antibody-CD39 Fusion Protein Targeting Activated Platelets Protects from Cardiac Ischaemia/Reperfusion Injury. The article appeared in the European Heart Journal.
The awards in the Clinical Research category went to Prof Paul Myles from Monash University and The Alfred’s Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, and Prof John McNeil AM from Monash Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
Prof Myles was recognised for his article in the New England Journal of Medicine on the Restrictive versus Liberal Fluid Therapy for Major Abdominal Surgery which his team ran in conjunction with the Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Clinical Trials Network and Australian & New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group.
Prof McNeil’s award was made for the outstanding achievement of publishing a total of three articles in the New England Journal of Medicine arising out of his group’s ground-breaking ASPREE trial.
The articles were Effect of Aspirin on Disability-Free Survival in the Healthy Elderly; Effect of Aspirin on Cardiovascular Events and Bleeding in the Healthy Elderly; and Effect of Aspirin on All-Cause Mortality in the Healthy Elderly.
Prof John McNeil is presented with his Award by Prof Johnstone.
Dr Melanie Ziegler, winner of a 2019 Research Award for Basic Research.
Dr Dragana Dragolievic won a 2019 Alfred Research Alliance Prize in Basic Research.
Prof Paul Myles receives his Award from Prof Johnstone.