Monash researcher awarded AAHMS 2025 Jian Zhou Medal for outstanding contributions to cardiovascular research
Professor Francine Coelho Marques
Professor Francine Coelho Marques from Monash Victorian Heart Institute and Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute has been awarded the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) 2025 Jian Zhou Medal in recognition of her outstanding contributions to translational medical research in the cardiovascular field, particularly in establishing the gut microbiome as a novel cardiovascular risk factor and potential therapeutic target.
The Jian Zhou Medal is awarded by the Academy annually to a rising star of Australian health and medical science - an individual who is making a significant impact in translational medical science, primarily working in Australia. The medal was established in honour of Professor Jian Zhou, a molecular biologist and virologist who co-developed the technology underpinning cervical cancer vaccines, who passed away tragically in 1999.
Professor Marques is the first Monash University researcher to be awarded the medal since its establishment in 2020. She has been recognised for her pioneering research into the role of diet and the microbiome in blood pressure regulation, which has reframed understanding of how blood pressure is regulated.
Globally, over one billion people live with high blood pressure, including 1 in 3 adult Australians, which is problematic as high blood pressure contributes to approximately half of all cases of heart disease and stroke. Also, two-thirds of hypertensive patients in Australia have uncontrolled high blood pressure, independently of taking medication. There is an urgent need for new interventions to reduce blood pressure, including through lifestyle changes. For decades, clinical evidence has shown that diets high in fibre are associated with lower blood pressure; however, the mechanisms were not understood.
Professor Marques has changed this by generating fundamental evidence, in studies published in 2016 and 2020 in Circulation, showing that gut microbes break down fibre as a fuel source and release potent blood pressure-lowering short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). She was awarded the 2021 Australian Academy of Science Gottschalk Medal for these findings, which have also now been cited in international clinical guidelines and policy documents, hypertension lifestyle guidelines, a patent and several international clinical trial publications. Professor Marques has also built a comprehensive body of research pinpointing the gut-to-host crosstalk mechanisms underlying this effect in mice and humans, using knockout models and human genomic approaches, respectively, published in journals such as Hypertension and Circulation Research.
Professor Marques now leads the development of novel drugs for hypertension based on these gene-microbiome interactions. Her body of work has established a new field of research: the gut-cardiorenal axis, encompassing the gut microbiome and its metabolites. Remarkably, she has achieved the rare accomplishment of translating her findings from experimental models to a phase II randomised clinical trial as principal investigator in the space of six years, and all since completing her PhD in 2012.
The trial data, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, represent the first clinical evidence that substances produced by gut microbes have therapeutic potential to lower blood pressure by a clinically significant magnitude. This work represents a paradigm shift in treatment approaches for hypertension and its complications by harnessing the therapeutic potential of substances produced by gut microbes, and was recognised with the 2024 Australian Society of Medical Research Peter Doherty Leading Light Award. Based on this work, Professor Marques was awarded an Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator (ASHRA) grant in 2024 to develop new short-chain fatty acid supplements to treat hypertension that could be commercialised in the next 5-10 years. In addition to her scientific achievements, Professor Marques has also been at the forefront of developing guidelines and resources establishing standards for the conduct of gut microbiome research and clinical implementation of dietary fibre recommendations in hypertensive guidelines.
Professor Marques was a group leader at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute before moving to Monash University to lead the Hypertension Research Laboratory. She is now the Deputy Director (Discovery) at the Monash Victorian Heart Institute.
Professor Marques said that she was delighted to receive the Jian Zhou Medal. “I’m incredibly honoured to receive this award and grateful to the selection committee and my colleagues who’ve supported me along the way,” she said. “This award not only celebrates the research itself, but also the collaborative spirit and dedication of the teams and patients I’ve worked with. The research culture cultivated within my team was fundamental in driving the innovative research recognised in this award. I feel privileged to be part of a community that values innovation and impact in medical research.”
Professor Stephen Nicholls, Director of the Monash Victorian Heart Institute, said the award was a fitting recognition of Professor Marques’ outstanding contributions. “Francine’s research is reshaping the way we understand and address high blood pressure, particularly through her pioneering work on dietary fibre and the gut microbiome. Just as importantly, she has shown dedication to mentoring, fostering inclusivity, and supporting the next generation of scientists - both in her lab and as Deputy Director,” he said. “This recognition speaks to her scientific excellence as well as her leadership and generosity. We congratulate Francine and look forward to seeing the continuing impact of her work.”
The 2025 Medals will be formally conferred at the Academy’s Annual Meeting in Canberra on 29 October 2025.
About Monash University
Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.
With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.
As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
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