New leadership for national health consortium

New leadership for national health research consortium

Celebrated scientist Professor Ted Baker will hand over leadership of the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery to Associate Professor Rod Dunbar at a celebration event at The University of Auckland on Friday 7 August. Twelve new associate investigators will also be welcomed to the Centre.

The Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery is one of eight government funded Centres of Research Excellence in New Zealand. Its mission is to combat serious human disease and it focuses on developing new treatments for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and infectious disease.

Professor Baker, who has had a long research career at Massey University and the University of Auckland, examines the physical structure of proteins - the building blocks of life. He is heavily involved in tuberculosis research, and also investigates other infectious agents such as Streptococcus pyogenes - the cause of Strep throat.

"Ted is one of our most decorated scientists," says Associate Professor Dunbar. "He is an extremely important figure in the scientific community, not only in New Zealand but internationally."

Among other awards Professor Baker is the recipient of the 2006 Rutherford Medal - the Royal Society of New Zealand's premier award - as well as the Health Research Council's 2008 Liley Medal for Excellence in Health Research In 2007 he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to science.

"Ted is committed to training and mentoring the next generation of researchers, and he knows what works long-term in terms of fostering research excellence," says Associate Professor Dunbar.

Associate Professor Dunbar, the new Director, is also one of its eight principal scientists. He was born and educated in Christchurch, and gained a medical degree from Otago University before undertaking a PhD in immunology and embarking on a research career that included 6 years at Oxford University. His research focuses on the human immune system, and he is currently involved in developing immune therapy for cancer.

The Maurice Wilkins Centre brings together researchers from across the country with expertise in diverse disciplines including biology, chemistry, bioengineering, and mathematics. It links more than 200 researchers from five universities, as well as the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington, and Industrial Research Limited.

The twelve new associate investigators being welcomed to the Centre are based at the Universities of Auckland and Otago. They are, from Otago, Professor Dave Grattan, Professor Kurt Krause, Professor Andrew Mercer, and Dr Sarah Hook; and from Auckland, Professor John Windsor, Professor Ian Reid, Professor Jillian Cornish, Associate Professor Lai-Ming Ching, Dr Kathy Mountjoy, Dr Anthony Hickey, Dr Debbie Hay, and Dr Jack Flanagan.

ENDS