Healthy contributions by University leaders recognised

The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) has announced the election of 29 new Fellows for 2025, including two leaders from the University of Adelaide.

Professor Jose Polo and Professor Wayne Tilley were officially elected by their peers for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of knowledge, the translation of research into improved health outcomes, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers and clinicians.

Professor Polo, Director of Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics and program leader of the South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI), joined the University in 2021.

Epigenetics is the study of how cells control which genes are read and used through epigenetic changes: these changes are unlike genetic changes as they do not change a DNA sequence and can be reversed.

Prior to his current role, Professor Polo was based at Monash University, establishing his independent research group in 2011 and still holding appointments to the departments of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and to the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute where he has a research group.

His work spans several fields, including nuclear reprogramming, developmental biology and cancer, bringing together reprogramming techniques to control cell identity into novel approaches to research into the treatment of prostate cancer.

"I’m honoured to join the Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences," says Professor Polo.

"This recognition reflects the collective efforts of my teams and collaborators and strengthens my resolve to advance fundamental discoveries in stem cell and epigenetic research, and to translate them into meaningful health outcomes."

Professor Tilley is the Director of the Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories and has become a world expert in the field of nuclear receptors and hormonal carcinogenesis during a career that spans more than 40 years.

Professor Tilley’s research has an emphasis on mechanisms of sex hormone signalling and the emergence of resistance to hormonal therapies used in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer.

He is internationally recognised for discoveries on steroid hormone receptor action, in particular androgen receptor (AR) structure and function and AR function in breast and prostate cancers.

"I feel incredibly honoured. It’s a real privilege to be inducted into the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences," says Professor Tilley.

"This recognition from the nation’s leading health and medical scientists is deeply meaningful and reflects the collective efforts of an outstanding team committed to excellence in medical research and advancing clinical translation over many years to improve outcomes in breast and prostate cancer.”

Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Adelaide, praised the work of Professor Tilley and Professor Polo.

"I congratulate Professor Polo and Professor Tilley for their Fellowships which recognises their highly respected careers and reputations throughout the health and medical sciences field,” said Professor Middelberg.

“As part of a community of dedicated researchers at the University of Adelaide, their work accelerates human progress and makes the world a better place.”