2025 Biennial Awards

2025 NHMRC Consumer Involvement Award

Griffth University

Professor James St John is Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research within the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics at Griffith University. Professor St John is a translational neuroscientist specialising in the creation and delivery of therapies to repair injuries and diseases of the nervous system, particularly spinal cord injury. He has driven the development and co-design of an innovative cellular nerve bridge transplantation therapy to repair spinal cord injury (SCI) which is now progressing to a clinical trial in 2025. He was also previously awarded the NHMRC Marshall and Warren Innovation Award in 2019.

Inspired by Australia's Chief Scientist, Professor St John developed a consumer involvement program to advance an SCI cell transplantation therapy. This led to the launch of a world-first Phase I clinical trial for SCI repair. In 2017, Professor St John established the National Spinal Injury Project Consumer Panel, consisting of SCI individuals who provide invaluable insights and help design the research. His leadership and innovations, such as lab tours and online surveys, fostered strong consumer engagement. This collaboration resulted in successful rehabilitation trials and significant community support, with over 500 people expressing interest in the trial. Professor St John also contributes to broader research efforts, including training other researchers on consumer involvement and creating educational materials to highlight the importance of co-design. His work has set a new standard for integrating consumers in medical research.

Read more about the Consumer Involvement Award.

2025 NHMRC Ethics and Integrity Award

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

Professor Fabienne Mackay is the Director and CEO of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and is an internationally renowned immunologist and biomedical research leader whose discoveries have directly influenced treatments for debilitating diseases such as lupus and leukaemia. Her reputation and commitment to enhancing research integrity in Australia’s scientific community has been exemplary. Professor Mackay has proven to be a leader of the highest ethical standards, with a dedication to research integrity and excellence that is unparalleled. She has also led cultural and procedural reforms to foster the highest level of research quality and integrity. Professor Mackay is also a Vincent Fairfax Fellow of Ethical Leadership.

Professor Mackay has demonstrated exceptional contributions to promoting and upholding the highest ethical standards in health and medical research in Australia. Her leadership, resilience and determination to root out and expose research misconduct and change the culture within Australia’s scientific community was demonstrated in one of the most significant examples of research fraud nationally. Upon receiving an anonymous tip about allegations against a senior researcher, Professor Mackay navigated the situation with remarkable judgment and adherence to process, and upholding the highest ethical standards. Professor Mackay’s dedication to research integrity extends beyond QIMR Berghofer, as she actively shares her experiences to improve practices across the medical research community, cementing herself as a model leader for the sector.

Read more about the Ethics and Integrity Award.

2025 NHMRC Outstanding Contribution Award

Australian National University

Professor Emily Banks AM is a public health physician and epidemiologist. She works mainly on using large scale evidence to identify actions to improve health and health care, at an individual and population level. Her areas of interest include chronic disease, tobacco control, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and healthy ageing. She is Head of the Centre of Epidemiology for Policy and Practice at the Australian National University, an NHMRC Investigator Fellow, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford and a Member of the Order of Australia.

Professor Banks has made significant contributions to health research and policy at NHMRC, in Australia and also globally. A highly respected advocate for public health research, she has chaired the NHMRC Health Research Impact Committee and served as a member of the NHMRC Council, leading impactful systematic reviews, including one on electronic cigarettes that shaped health advice. From 2016-2021, she was Deputy Chair of the NHMRC Alcohol Working Committee, helping develop the Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol. Professor Banks has also contributed to the NHMRC Peer Review Advisory Committee, addressing complex grant review issues. She is also a strong advocate for gender equity and frequently shares her expertise in the media, influencing public health across Australia. Professor Banks has worked tirelessly to improve the health of all Australians through changing public behaviours, guiding health care professionals and having a substantive impact in the community.

Read more about the Outstanding Contribution Award.

2025 NHMRC Peer Review Excellence Award (Senior/Experienced Researcher)

Australian National University

Professor Philip Batterham is the Co-Head of the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University. He is a public health researcher in the areas of mental health and suicide prevention. Professor Batterham is a research leader in trialling and implementing programs to prevent suicide and mental health problems, detecting mental ill health in the community, and reducing barriers to care. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed journal articles related to mental health, including the outcomes of over 30 trials, and has received prestigious awards including the Commonwealth Health Minister’s Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research.

Since its inception in 2019, Professor Batterham has been an excellent contributor to NHMRC’s Clinical Trial and Cohort Studies grant scheme peer review process by consistently providing highly considered and expert advice. He has also been a valued member of the Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Advisory Committee and the newly established NHMRC and Department of Health and Aged Care Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Advisory Committee. Professor Batterham has always been extremely responsive and willing to assist, even when asked at the last minute, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to NHMRC. His rigorous, reasonable assessments ensure fairness and consistency, adhering to NHMRC principles of transparency and accountability, significantly enhancing the quality of NHMRC’s peer review process.

Read more about the Peer Review Excellence Award.

2025 NHMRC Peer Review Excellence Award (Early or Mid-Career Researcher)

University of New South Wales

Associate Professor Nadeem Kaakoush is a Scientia Associate Professor who leads the Host Microbiome Interactions group at the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of New South Wales. Associate Professor Kaakoush’s research employs metagenomics, bioinformatics and cellular and molecular microbiology and immunology to study the influence of host associated microbial communities on health. His research on transplant methods to modify human gut microbial communities has identified microbial agents associated with clinical response and already influenced official guidelines on management and treatment of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Associate Professor Kaakoush has been an active and highly valued participant in the Ideas Grants peer review process since 2019, consistently submitting assessments on time and demonstrating a strong commitment to the program. In 2023, he became a Peer Review Mentor (PRM), where he played a key role in supporting and mentoring peer reviewers.

Associate Professor Kaakoush’s professionalism and dedication in this role led to his return in 2024, where he continued to provide excellent advice during webinars and drop-in sessions, helping reviewers improve their understanding of the grant assessment process. He consistently delivered high quality, rigorous assessments and encouraged peer reviewers to maintain high standards that stringently align with NHMRC’s peer review process and policies. As a PRM, he also advocated for fairness and transparency, ensuring peer reviewers adhered to NHMRC’s principles, including consistency in scoring and compliance with the Ideas Grants guidelines. Associate Professor Kaakoush’s mentorship and leadership have significantly contributed to enhancing the peer review process and maintaining the integrity of NHMRC’s grant program.

Read more about the Peer Review Excellence Award.

2025 NHMRC Research Quality Award

The George Institute for Global Health

The Guunu-maana (Heal) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program at the George Institute for Global Health drives meaningful, ethical research and advocacy to transform the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples and communities. Guunu-maana is committed to research quality, being led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing to generate evidence that privileges Indigenous knowledge. Guunu-maana has a diverse team of researchers, students and project staff who, as a collective, have made meaningful contributions to advancing Indigenous knowledge and research quality within the field.

This award recognises the meaningful, ethical research and advocacy to transform the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples and communities that is led by Guunu-maana. Respecting Indigenous knowledge, values, lived experiences and self-determination, Guunu-maana fosters collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, ensuring their voices lead health research. Guunu-maana emphasises research quality by mentoring Indigenous researchers and integrating Indigenous methodologies, influencing policies and programs with tangible community benefits. Transparency is a core value of the program, demonstrated through clear communication of findings, policy contributions, and advocating for cultural safety. The program’s leadership is reflected in its influence on both national and global health strategies, aiming to address health disparities and promote self-determination for Indigenous peoples.

Read more about the Research Quality Award.

2025 NHMRC Science to Art Award

Frazer Institute, University of Queensland

Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe leads the Clinical-oMx Lab at the Frazer Institute, University of Queensland and is the Founding Scientific Director of the Queensland Spatial Biology Centre. Associate Professor Kulasinghe has pioneered spatial transcriptomics, proteomics and interactomics in the Asia Pacific region, contributing to world first studies for lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and organ atlas studies in COVID-19. His research aims to understand the underlying pathobiology by using an integrative multi omics approach. Associate Professor Kulasinghe is supported by the NHMRC, Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), US Department of Defense, Cancer Australia, Cure Cancer and numerous hospital and philanthropic organisations.

Read more about the Science to Art Award.