8 March 2011

In a field that is predominantly occupied by men. Today, Menzies School of Health Research celebrates women making a difference in health and science.

Menzies congratulates former Menzies Board member Ella Stack, who has been awarded the Tribute to Northern Territory Women Award 2011. Other Menzies affiliates who have received this award include Bilawara Lee and Susan Hutton.

Ms Lee received the award in 2009, when she was the Head of Menzies Indigenous Development Unit, for her involvement and contribution to the Northern Territory community and improving the lives of Territorians.

Mrs Hutton, a leading scientist with Menzies, received the award in 2008 for her contribution to improving the lives of Indigenous children and as an inspirational role model in the field of science. Her research work identified Chlamydia pneumonia in Indigenous children in the Northern Territory.

Many of Menzies female researchers past and present continue to make significant contributions to the field of science.

• Kalinda Griffiths was awarded NT Young Australian of the Year in 2011 for her work in cancer research whilst at Menzies. Ms Griffiths had been working at the Menzies School of Health Research to improve the evidence base for Indigenous health and social policy to help reduce the health disadvantage faced by Indigenous people.
   
• In 2011 Public Health Nutritionist Leisa McCarthy received a scholarship to investigate household food security and its impact on health outcomes in Indigenous children in the Top End. She is an Ian Potter Foundation Indigenous Research Fellow and was also awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Menzies Foundation to support her PhD.
   
• In late 2010, Menzies Leishmania Project Team identified the insect that spreads the parasite Leishmania in Australia and was awarded the prestigious Chief Minister’s Research and Innovation Award for their findings. Worldwide Leismaniasis is a devastating infection caused by Leishmania parasites. It can be fatal if left untreated, and causes tens of thousands of cases and deaths each year, particularly in Africa and South America. The lead Menzies researchers were all female - Dr Annette Dougall, Dr Deborah Holt and Associate Professor Shelley Walton.
   
• In 2010, at just 23, Jana Lai developed a diagnostic tool to identify two key bacteria pathogens in childhood pneumonia. Finding ways to diagnose pneumonia early has huge implications for child health outcomes in the Northern Territory. From her work Ms Lai was awarded the Northern Territory’s Young Achiever Award, in the science and engineering category, and was a finalist for Northern Territorian Young Australian of 2011.
   
• In 2010 Dr Jaqui Hughes received The University of Newcastle Inaugural Indigenous Alumni Award in recognition of her excellence and contribution to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Dr Hughes, Australia’s first Indigenous nephrologist (kidney specialist), has been working at the Menzies School of Health Research to prevent chronic disease, which has a significant burden on Indigenous people.

This International Women’s Day Menzies celebrates the social and scientific achievements our female researchers’ past and present and we look forward to more discoveries in the future.

Victoria Close, Communications Officer
Ph: 08 8943 5039 | Mob: 0421 469 817 | victoria.close@menzies.edu.au