Celebrating this year’s outstanding achievements across the Monash BDI
As the end of 2022 fast approaches, the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) gathered to reflect on the exceptional efforts made by so many to further biomedical research and teaching. Last Friday, these contributions were celebrated at the institute’s annual End of Year Celebration, incorporating the Awards for Outstanding Achievement.
Professor John Carroll, Director of the Monash BDI, welcomed staff with a presentation that highlighted some of the significant milestones and achievements made by both individuals and teams.
From national education awards to a Royal Society Fellow, commercial successes and a Premier’s Award to fellowships and grants from a diverse range of national and international funding bodies, the presentation highlighted the talent across the institute.
“2022 has proven to be a momentous year. Truly, the many incredible outcomes are further testament to the resilience, dedication and drive of members of the Monash BDI,” said Professor Carroll.
Professor Chris Thompson, Director of Education at the Monash BDI spoke about how wonderful it was to be back in the classroom this year, meeting and collaborating again. He thanked the teaching team for their unwavering commitment to their students and commitment to providing an engaging, inclusive and innovative learning environment.
Special guest Beate Lackmann paid tribute to her daughter before presenting the Christina Lackmann Honours Medal to the top ranked Honours student undertaking a research project in one of Monash BDI’s Departments. Receiving the commemorative medal, a certificate and an award of $1,000, this year’s recipient was Amanda Karagiannidis from the Department of Physiology.
Professor Dena Lyras, Monash BDI’s Deputy Director, then joined Professor Carroll to present the 2022 Awards for Outstanding Achievement, thanking those that took the time to nominate their colleagues and the selection panel members.
The Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of members of the Institute, with each category judged by a selection panel.
“The nominations represented a diverse range of initiatives across the institute. Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners,” said Professor Lyras.
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Winners of the Monash BDI 2022 Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Monash BDI Above and Beyond Award
Dr Nicole Mifsud: Dedication to supporting and championing Monash BDI mid-career researchers.
Industry Engagement and Commercialisation Award
Dr Remy Robert: Building a technology platform that can develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for various disease indications.
Clinical Engagement and Research Translation Award
The BDI Organoid Program - Professor Helen Abud, Dr Thierry Jardé, Dr Genevieve Kerr, Dr Eglantine Balland, Ms Ashley Chong, Dr Rebekah Engel and Dr Dilys Leung: Demonstrated long-term clinical engagement to establish hundreds of new patient-derived organoid models.
Award for Fostering a Supportive Culture
Dr Anne Fletcher: Developing and implementing initiatives that have created a more equitable work environment for women at the BDI.
Science Communication and Community Engagement Award
The BDI Curriculum Development Team for the JMSS Biomedical Science Elective: Dr Sharon Flecknoe, Laura Reid, Dr Renee Rogers, Associate Professor Yan Wong, Associate Professor Karla Hutt, Dr Amy Winship, Dr Jessica Stringer, Lauren Alesi, Tony Ngoc Nguyen: Developing a dedicated biomedical science elective unit embedded in the John Monash Science School curriculum.
Innovation in Learning and Teaching Award
The Physiology Education Virtual Laboratory Team: Associate Professor Julia Choate, Professor Kate Denton, Dr Belinda Henry, Associate Professor Nicholas Price, Dr Ari Pinar, Professor Ramesh Rajan, Associate Professor Renea Taylor, Riley Taylor, Dr Maria del Mar Quiroga and Josef Kenjeric: Developing a suite of virtual laboratories utilised across five degree programs and at universities worldwide.
Teaching Excellence Award
Dr Michael Leung and Associate Professor Craig Harrison: Modernising the student experience in the second year physiology unit PHY2032 through the creation of initiatives to encourage student engagement.
Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning Award
Dr Chantal Hoppe: Integrating the ProFESS Framework to provide an integrated approach for supporting students.
Outstanding Contribution to Professional Support of Research or Education Award
There were two awards in this category this year.
Bala Siva: Outstanding contribution to the BDI and support of research accountancy.
Dr Simone Beckham, Irene Hatzinisiriou, Dr Birunthi Niranjan and Thanavit (Tent) Jirapanjawat: Outstanding collaboration to successfully complete OHS audits and safeguard the health of BDI staff.
Monash BDI Thesis Excellence Award
There was one Award and one Highly Commended in this category this year.
Dr Martin Estermann, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology
Thesis title: "The cell biology and molecular genetics of avian gonadal development"
Highly Commended: Dr Laura Ciacchi, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Thesis title: "Investigating the molecular basis for specific and cross-reactive T cell responses in celiac disease"
MCR Award for Outstanding Publication Outcomes
There were two awards in this category this year.
Dr Antonella Papa
Control of glucocorticoid receptor levels by PTEN establishes a failsafe mechanism for tumor suppression
Molecular Cell 80, 279-295 (2020)
Dr Shane Landry
Fit-tested N95 masks combined with portable high-efficiency particulate air filtration can protect against high aerosolized viral loads over prolonged periods at close range
Infectious Diseases 226, 199-207 (2022)
Director’s Highly Commended Publication Award
There were three Director’s Highly Commended Publication Awards this year.
Dr Andrea Di Pietro and Associate Professor Kim Jacobson
Targeting BMI-1 in B cells restores effective humoral immune responses and controls chronic viral infection
Nature Immunology 23, 86 (2022)
Dr Amy Winship, Lauren Alesi and Associate Professor Karla Hutt
Checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy diminishes oocyte number and quality in mice
Nature Cancer 3, 932 (2022)
Dr Christopher Lupton, Dr Charles Bayly-Jones, Dr Laura D’Andrea, Associate Professor Andrew Ellisdon
The cryo-EM structure of the human neurofibromin dimer reveals the molecular basis for neurofibromatosis type 1
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 28, 982 (2021)
Discovery Award for Best Publication
Dr Maureen Hagan
Modulation of inhibitory communication coordinates looking and reaching
Nature 604, 708-713 (2022)
For those of you who weren’t able to attend the End of Year Celebration and Annual Awards event 2022, you can download the slides here (Monash login required).
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Spanning six discovery programs across Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Development and Stem Cells, Infection and Immunity, Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity, and Neuroscience, Monash BDI is one of the largest biomedical research institutes in Australia. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.