Media Release

Professor James Paton Photo courtesy of NHMRC Full Image (90.76K) Professor Rob Norman Photo courtesy of NHMRC Full Image (92.29K)

Thursday, 4 October 2007

Two of the University of Adelaide's leading researchers are among 10 of the best Australian research minds, according to the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Pioneering fertility research scientist Professor Rob Norman and international leader on infectious diseases Professor James Paton have been named among 10 of the best - Great minds in Australian research, published by the NHMRC, for their contributions to the health of Australians.

Professor Norman is Director of the Research Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Adelaide. Internationally recognised for his work in fertility and reproductive health, Professor Norman has been involved in many of the pioneering developments in IVF in Australia.

Members of his team have been responsible for refining and promoting single embryo implantation technique, introducing pioneering quality management techniques and showing the impact of lifestyle on fertility. Professor Norman is Chief Investigator on the new NHMRC program `Periconceptual foundations for a healthy start to life', funded for $10.4 million over five years.

Professor James Paton, in the University of Adelaide's School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, is leading the fight against some of the world's most serious bacterial infectious diseases, such as meningitis and pneumonia. He and fellow researchers at the University of Adelaide are responsible for some ground-breaking medical discoveries, including how bacterial toxins cause severe gastrointestinal diseases.

Professor Paton was recently awarded a $4 million Australia Fellowship from the NHMRC to continue his research into new vaccines and treatments. A major part of his research program is directed at the development of cheap and effective vaccines, accessible to the most at-risk communities.

"It is a privilege to be able to introduce you to these researchers who have such an important and largely unacknowledged role in the health of every man, woman and child in our country," says Professor Warwick Anderson, NHMRC Chief Executive Officer, in his foreword to the publication.