Dr Alice Rumbold, Senior Research Fellow at the Menzies School of Health Research and the University of Adelaide, has been named ‘Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year’ for her ground breaking work in reproductive health.

Dr Rumbold was one of ten scientists nominated for the South Australian 2009 Young Tall Poppy Science Awards at the Observatory Function Centre in Adelaide last week.

Dr Rumbold, who is currently working on a number of ground-breaking projects which are investigating the causes and consequences of women’s reproductive health problems, particularly in Indigenous women, was thrilled to have received this prestigious award.  

"My work is particularly focused on the occurrence and impact of common infections such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause women’s reproductive cancers, such as cervical cancer. In the NT the incidence of this cancer is approximately 3 times higher amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women than other women and cervical cancer mortality is 8 times higher.”

"This award recognises the desire by all sectors of the community to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal women”, Dr Rumbold said.

As well as her ground-breaking work in cancer, Dr Rumbold is also looking at ways to provide the most appropriate care in pregnancy for Aboriginal women, such as improving the ways Aboriginal women are offered screening tests for fetal abnormalities, because uptake of these tests amongst Aboriginal women is low. 

“My work is more than just research, I am involved on a ground level - informing health programs to optimise the health of young Aboriginal women now and into the future." 

In addition, her research has featured in national and international media, including the Wall Street Journal, Reuters Health, Child Magazine, and the NBC News Channel, and local and national ABC radio as well as a number of internationally renowned scientific journals. 

Speaking of her success, Prof Jonathan Carapetis, Director, Menzies School of Health Research said that this is due recognition for Alice's outstanding work. 

“This award is incredibly well deserved” he said “Alice is one of a number of young, up and coming, researchers at Menzies who are committed to improving the health of Indigenous Australians."

“Congratulations Alice on a job well done.”  

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