Finalists for the 2007 Jamie Callachor Eureka Prize for Medical Research

The finalists in the 2007 Australian Museum Eureka Prize Awards were announced on 26 July 2007 by the NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, the Hon Verity Firth MP.

This year’s finalists reflect the growing focus on science as crucial in responding to the big issues that face Australia and the world. From climate change to heart disease, water research to medical journalism, the finalists in the 20 prizes on offer highlight the innovative contributions and critical breakthroughs being made by Australian scientists.

OSMR sponsors the NSW Office for Science and Medical Research Jamie Callachor Eureka Prize for Medical Research, named in memory of Jamie Callachor, a valued and well-respected member of OSMR who died unexpectedly in 2005. This year’s prize will be awarded for outstanding medical research in cardiovascular disease. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on 21 August 2007.

The 2007 finalists are:

Professor Levon Khachigian
NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow
Centre for Vascular Research
University of New South Wales

For ground-breaking research that has revolutionised our understanding of transcriptional control in blood vessels using exceptionally-innovative small-molecule gene-targeting agents as inhibitors of angiogenesis, inflammation and intimal thickening.  Professor Khachigian’s research potentially offers many important new therapeutic solutions addressing key basic and clinical challenges in the area of cardiovascular pathology.

Dr Owen Prall
Senior Research Officer
Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

For innovative work in identifying a novel molecular path way that controls progenitor cell behaviour in embryos.  Dr Prall’s work has profound implications for understanding Congenital Heart Disease and future cell-mediated strategies directed at repairing the malformed or adult heart.  It is providing new avenues for genetic screening and has set the stage for exciting applications of cell-based therapies to address this devastating developmental defect.

To see other finalists of the Australian Museum Eureka Prize Awards, visit the Australian Eureka Prize website.