Recognition for pioneering work in biophysics
Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s (BDI) Professor Mibel Aguilar was recently awarded the McAulay-Hope Prize for Original Biophysics by the Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB), in recognition of her pioneeering work in the development of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and dual polarisation interferometry (DPI) for the analysis of biomembrane interactions. This technology makes it possible to study molecules whose effects are known to be linked to the interaction with a cell membrane, such as hormones and antibacterial agents.
The McAulay-Hope Prize for Original Biophysics was established to recognise true originality and innovation in the field of biophysics, rather than the use of existing techniques or applications.
Professor Aguilar has held a long-term interest in the biophysics of membrane interactions and her research has focused on the design and development of biosensor methods for the analysis of membrane interaction of peptides and proteins.
This award recognises Professor Aguilar’s record of achievement in this field over the last 18 years which has culminated in a recent review published in Chemical Reviews. Professor Aguilar and her team provided the first authoritative review of the field of membrane-based optical biosensors and chart the development of biosensor technologies. The review also highlighted the capabilities of these new biosensors, including the ability to measure how strongly and how rapidly something – like a disease – can bind to the biomembrane, and more importantly, the ability to allow researchers to observe how the biomembrane reacts when molecules bind to it and try to penetrate the cell.
The overall impact of Professor Aguilar’s studies using SPR and DPI has been recognised through invitations to contribute review articles in the area of immobilised lipid chromatography and SPR analysis of peptide-membrane interactions which have been cited more than 500 times collectively.
Professor Aguilar presented a plenary lecture on her work at the ASB Annual Meeting, held in Melbourne this early December, in conjunction with the Asian Biophysics Association Symposium.
“It was an enormous honour to be recognised by the ASB for the team’s work in the area of biomembrane structure,” Professor Aguilar said.
“This recognition provides an impetus to continue to develop new approaches to studying the cell membrane,” she said.
The McAulay-Hope Prize was initiated by a donation from one of the founders of the ASB, Professor Alex Hope. The Prize’s other namesake was Alexander McAulay, Australia’s first biophysicist. McAulay had pioneered the study of the mutations in yeast caused by ultraviolet radiation in Australia. He proposed a project to investigate the electric fields in and around plant roots and shoots, which he considered could be developmental forces in plant growth.
About the Australian Society for Biophysics
The Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB) represents researchers, teachers, and others with an interest in the application of physical and physicochemical methods to the study of biological systems.
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. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.