Ian Frazer has been honoured with a prestigious American award.
Credit: Russell Shakespeare
SYDNEY, 31 May 2006 - Australian of the Year and cervical cancer vaccine inventor Ian Frazer has won an award from one of America's premier cancer research groups.
Frazer, the Director of The University of Queensland's Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, is joint winner of the U.S. Cancer Research Institute's 2006 William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Tumour Immunology.
Professor Frazer will share the medal with German scientist Harald zur Hausen, the man who first linked the skin wart virus, human papilloma, to cervical cancer in the 1970s.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes abnormal cells or tissue growth on the feet, hands, vocal cords, mouth and genitals.
About 60 types of HPV have been identified so far with each strand infecting certain parts of the body.
Frazer won the Coley medal for creating a vaccine against HPV and the potential to prevent cervical cancer. He wins US$5000 and a medallion which will be presented at a dinner in New York on June 27.
"I'm delighted that our team's work should be recognised on the international stage in this way," Frazer said.
"It is particularly prestigious to share an award with Harald zur Hausen, who is the father figure of research in HPV associated cancer.
"It's a great honour to be sharing this award with someone of his stature."
Professor Frazer was named Australian of the Year in January and has also earned many honorary awards from Australian medical groups. He told the story of his discovery in COSMOS magazine, Issue 5.
