26 March 2014
Centre for Cancer Biology (CCB) co-director Professor Angel Lopez has been elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
Prof Lopez is one of 21 leaders in Australian science to be elected to the prestigious Fellow position, which recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution to scientific research.
Prof Lopez’s election recognises his work on growth factors which paved the way for the development of drugs for the treatment of certain types of leukaemia.
Every year the Australian Academy of Science honours the work of Australia’s leading scientists with election to its Fellowship, which now totals 481.
Both co-directors of the CCB are now Fellows of the Academy, with co-director Prof Sharad Kumar having been elected in 2013.
The CCB is an alliance between UniSA and SA Pathology and boasts the largest concentration of fundamental cancer research in the state and significant applications through clinical trials.
UniSA, with some funding assistance from the Federal Government, will build a new CCB building in Adelaide’s burgeoning west end health precinct. The new building will underpin the growth of one of Australia’s top cancer research centres.
Prof Lopez will be formally inducted into the Fellowship at the Academy’s annual flagship event, Science at the Shine Dome, in Canberra in May, where new Fellows will make short presentations about their work. Prof Lopez says he is deeply honoured to be elected as a Fellow.
“I am truly humbled to be recognised for my work on blood hormones and their role in blood cancers,” he says.
“I have been very lucky in leading a group of smart and highly motivated researchers and this is recognition of their work too.”
UniSA Vice Chancellor David Lloyd congratulated Prof Lopez on his Fellowship and says having both CCB co-directors as Fellows of the Academy is testimony to the CCB’s outstanding quality and the breadth of its cancer research.
“Election as a Fellow of the Academy is a significant honour and I congratulate both CCB leaders on their achievements,” Prof Lloyd says.
Media contact: Kelly Stone office 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email Kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au
