President’s Medal

The President's Medal is the highest honour that the ANZSCDB bestows.

It is an award that recognises outstanding contributions to the disciplines of Cell and/or Developmental Biology by scientists in Australia and New Zealand. It is not a condition that the awardee is a member of the Society but preference will be given to those who have made major contributions to the disciplines represented by ANZSCDB.

Jump to: Instructions to Applicants | Past Award Winners

 
Original-PresidentsMedal.jpg
 

The Medal

In 2002, the ANZSCDB inaugurated a special award to recognise excellence in the fields of Cell Biology and Developmental Biology. The first 7 medals were struck at the Perth Mint. The second set of medals was struck at the Royal Australian Mint, Canberra. The award consists of a pure silver medal (5cm in diameter) to be presented annually at COMBIO or another meeting of/or involving the Society, accompanied by a lecture from the recipient. The Medal features an elegant embossed design by Professor Nadia Rosenthal (a muscle stem cell biologist and talented artist) that encapsulates the cellular, genetic, organismal and model systems bases of the disciplines of the Society and the countries represented.

Instructions to Applicants

Purpose: The President’s Medal recognizes a career of outstanding achievement in the disciplines of cell and developmental biology in Australia or New Zealand. It is the highest award of the Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology.

Eligibility: The competition is open to any researcher based in Australia or New Zealand, and working in the disciplines of cell biology and developmental biology. Candidates are generally expected to be members of ANZSCDB. However, non-members with strong demonstrated commitment to cell biology or developmental biology may also be considered.

Nomination:

Possible candidates will be sought by inviting all members to suggest names of suitably eminent individuals to the President.

Selection criteria:

1.    Scientific achievements (i.e. what research the candidate has done) (40%) – ground-breaking and influential discoveries leading to seminal publications as senior (last) or corresponding author; indicators of quality such as editorials, cover features or other highlighters; citations; demonstrated impact and influence on the field.

2.    Leadership, engagement, mentorship (i.e. what the candidate has done besides research) (40%) – executive and leadership roles; journal editorship; high-level roles in peer review; outreach, advocacy and policy development; teaching, supervision, mentorship; contributions to the discipline.

3.    National and/or international profile (i.e. how others have responded to what the candidate has done) (20%) – invitations to give plenary and keynote addresses or named lectures; invited reviews; invited senior appointment to committees; honours, awards and prizes; grants and Fellowships. 

ANZSCDB is committed to the principles of fairness, equity and diversity, including gender equality, in assessing and administering this award.

Required documentation:

1.    The nominator will provide a short statement (up to one page) addressing the candidate’s credentials in relation to the selection criteria.

2.    CV of the candidate.

In addition, any factors limiting the opportunity of the candidate to demonstrate scientific excellence should be identified. The career and productivity impact of COVID-19 and lock-downs will be taken into general consideration, applicants should feel free to note exceptional circumstances.

A single pdf file comprising all documents should be emailed c/o the ANZSCDB Secretariat (anzscdb@asnevents.net.au) by 5pm 9th July, 2023

Judging: Evaluation and ranking of candidates will involve all members of the ANZSCDB Committee and the President. In situations where there is a tied vote or a lack of consensus, the President may cast the deciding vote. The preferred candidate will be asked to confirm their ability to attend the annual meeting of the Society before an award is made. In cases where the preferred candidate is unavailable to speak, the award will be made to an alternative candidate who is available. ANZSCDB reserves the right to present a joint award, or decline to present an award, in any given round.

Prize: The winner will receive a medal, a talk and free registration, travel and accommodation (COVID-19 travel restrictions permitting) to attend a future scientific meeting of/or involving the Society.

Rollover of nomination: Candidates who are unsuccessful will remain in contention for two years after the first year of their nomination, i.e. for a maximum of three years. An updated documentation package should be supplied in each subsequent year of consideration.

The 2023 President’s Medalist

 
 

PROFESSOR Jane Visvader
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research

The society is proud to award the 2023 ANZSCDB President’s Medal to Professor Jane Visvader. Jane is internationally recognised for identifying breast stem and progenitor cell populations and elucidating their role in normal development and cancer. Following a landmark discovery of stem cells that are responsible for generating all ductal tissue in the breast, Visvader and team have subsequently defined the stem cell hierarchy and master regulators of differentiation, providing a new framework for the molecular and cellular events that drive mammary gland development and breast cancer. Integrating basic and translational work, mouse and organoid models, advanced imaging and single cell approaches, Visvader and team have consistently reported breakthroughs and novel methods that transform our insight into epithelial organogenesis and provide potential therapeutic strategies for breast cancer. Accompanied by an outstanding track record of leadership, engagement, and mentorship, Jane's research exemplifies the translational potential that can be realised from fundamental research in cell biology and developmental biology.  

The 2022 President’s Medalist

 
 

professor Jose Polo

To view/read about Professor Jose Polo’s achievements, please click here.

Previous Awardees:

  • 2022 - Jose Polo, University of Adelaide and Monash University

  • 2021 - John Bertram, Monash University

  • 2020 - Peter Gunning, University of New South Wales

  • 2019 - Jenny Stow, University of Queensland

  • 2018 - Sally Dunwoodie, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

  • 2017 - Peter Currie, Monash University

  • 2016 - Sharad Kumar, Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia

  • 2015 - Melissa Little, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

  • 2014 - David James, Sydney University

  • 2013 - Alpha Yap, University of Queensland

  • 2012 - Marilyn Renfree, University of Melbourne

  • 2011 - Rob Parton, University of Queensland

  • 2010 - Emma Whitelaw, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

  • 2009 - Richard Harvey, , Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

  • 2008 - Rob Saint, University of Adelaide

  • 2007 - Patrick Tam, Children’s Medical Research Institute

  • 2006 - David Vaux, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

  • 2005 - Peter Koopman, University of Queensland

  • 2004 - Adrienne Clarke, University of Melbourne

  • 2003 - John Kerr, University of Queensland

  • 2002 - Don Metcalf, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Note: listed affiliation reflects time of award.