NeuRA’s Executive Director Professor Peter Schofield, Professor Glenda Halliday and Professor Stephen Lord will be inducted into the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences at a ceremony in Canberra tonight.
The Academy will be launched by the Minister for Health, the Hon Sussan Ley MP.
The leading health and medical science minds from across the country have come together to establish the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, which will provide independent advice to government, industry and the community on issues relating to evidence-based medical practice and medical research in Australia.
NeuRA’s Professor Peter Schofield says, “The new academy is a major boost for medical research in Australia and globally. It will provide a streamlined forum to advance progress of medical research with an emphasis on translation of research into practice.”
“To have three NeuRA representatives inducted this evening is an honour. We look forward to participating in the vital conversations necessary for a healthy future and supported health care system.”
Health Minister Sussan Ley said the establishment of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences would continue to build on Australia’s world-leading medical research sector.
“The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences will draw on a significant breadth of knowledge to provide Government with advice on health priorities where medical research can and should make a difference,” Ms Ley said.
The Academy includes many eminent scientists and is led by President Professor Ian Frazer.
Prof Frazer, President of the Academy, says, “Australian Health and Medical Science is amongst the best in the world. The Academy will assist in mentoring the next generation of researchers to ensure we remain at the forefront of evidence based medical practice.”
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Professor Peter Schofield
Professor Peter Schofield is Executive Director and CEO of NeuRA – Neuroscience Research Australia – one of Australia’s leading independent neuroscience research centres, and Professor of Medicine at UNSW. His research has fundamentally altered the understanding of neurotransmitter signaling and has identified the role of genes that lead to neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and bipolar disorder. He has published over 290 papers. He has taken leadership roles in professional organizations including ASMR, Research Australia, on government committees and in the development of NeuRA’s research program that addresses clinical and laboratory research addressing both neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Professor Stephen Lord
Prof Stephen Lord is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia in Sydney, Australia. Over the last 20 years, he has worked in the areas of applied physiology, instability, falls and fractures in older people. Prof Lord’s research on falls has followed two main themes: the identification of risk factors and the evaluation of prevention strategies. His studies have involved large prospective population studies and randomised controlled trials for assessing the effectiveness of exercise and targeted programs in improving vision, strength, balance and co-ordination and preventing falls in community dwelling people and residents of retirement villages. His methodology and approach to falls-risk assessment has been adopted by many researchers across the world.
Professor Glenda Halliday
Glenda’s research on Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies is incorporated into diagnostic research criteria – she is the only Australian on current task force redefining PD diagnosis. In frontotemporal dementia, she performed the 1st large-scale clinicopathological and survival analyses, developed a disease severity staging scheme – research also incorporated into diagnostic criteria and international studies identifying novel genes and pathologies.
