Monash University Dean recognised among nation’s most distinguished scientists

Professor Arthur Christopoulos, Dean of Monash University’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA) for his ground-breaking research and outstanding contributions to the scientific community, both within Australia and globally.

Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science are among the nation’s most distinguished scientists, nominated by their peers for work that has made a clear impact.

Professor Christopoulos is one of 22 newly elected Fellows from across all scientific disciplines, three of whom are from Monash University.

Throughout his career as a pharmacist and molecular pharmacologist, Professor Christopoulos has become world-renowned for his pioneering discoveries of spatially distinct ‘allosteric’ drug binding sites on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest class of all medicinal targets.

His research spans the interface of biology and chemistry with a particular therapeutic focus on neuropsychiatry, cardiometabolism, pain and addiction. Professor Christopoulos’ work is highly cited, has been included in leading textbooks, and acknowledged via the highest honours from Australasian, United States and United Kingdom Pharmacological Societies, in addition to the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology.

The Australian Academy of Science’s citation notes that Professor Christopoulos’ research has changed the way GPCR medicines are discovered in academia and industry.

Professor Christopoulos’ work has been widely published in leading journals such as Nature, Cell, Science, Nature Chemical Biology, PNAS and Nature Communications. Since 2014, Clarivate Analytics have named him a Highly Cited Researcher in Pharmacology and Toxicology.

“It truly is an honour to be elected by my Academy peers as a 2021 Fellow,” said Professor Christopoulos.

“I’m humbled to be joining the other researchers selected by the Academy over the decades - each in their own way having made significant and sustained contributions to Australia’s scientific community and on the global stage.

“I extend my congratulations to my Monash colleagues that were also elected to the Academy and am proud to be part of a University that encourages and supports research excellence.

“I would like to thank the Academy for this honour, and for its ongoing commitment to supporting and promoting science and scientists at all career stages through a range of programs and activities. I would also like to thank and acknowledge all my past and present mentors, mentees and collaborators, without whom this honour would not have been possible.”

The Australian Academy of Science provides independent, authoritative and influential scientific advice, promotes international scientific engagement, builds public awareness and understanding of science, and champions, celebrates and supports excellence in Australian science.

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