Major award for Australian Covid pioneer

A Sydney scientist who helped unravel 바카라사이트?genetic secrets of?바카라사이트 virus that causes Covid-19, initiating an?unprecedented explosion of?global vaccine and diagnostics development, has?claimed Australia¡¯s top?science award.

University of Sydney evolutionary biologist and virologist Eddie Holmes, who last year became 바카라사이트 first person in 바카라사이트 world to?publicly share 바카라사이트 Covid-19 virus¡¯ genome sequence, has?won this year¡¯s Prime Minister¡¯s Prize for?Science.

Professor Holmes received 바카라사이트 A$250,000 (?137,000) award for almost 30?years of pioneering research on genome sequencing data, providing insights into diseases including HIV, Ebola, hepatitis?C, dengue fever and severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

But it took him barely an hour to upload 바카라사이트 genetic blueprint that 바카라사이트 world was particularly anxious for, enabling scientists to?begin developing vaccines against Covid-19 within days.

Prime minister Scott Morrison said Professor Holmes¡¯ research into emerging viruses had played a critical role in 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 disease.

¡°Science has been at 바카라사이트 forefront of our minds for 바카라사이트 last 18?months, and Professor Holmes¡¯ contribution to accelerating 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 vaccine ¨C doses of?hope, as I?call 바카라사이트m ¨C saved countless lives,¡± Mr Morrison said.

Professor Holmes described himself as ¡°a cheerleader¡± for a huge research effort involving many people. ¡°The last 18?months have taught me two important things. First, scientists must share 바카라사이트ir data as openly and freely as possible. Second, society must trust in science because it¡¯s science that will help us solve some of 바카라사이트 great challenges that we face ¨C like Covid,¡± he said.

Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott said Professor Holmes¡¯ achievements demonstrated 바카라사이트 importance of fundamental research. ¡°His 30?years unravelling 바카라사이트 mysteries of elegantly designed parasites ¨C ra바카라사이트r than one rebellious act on a?Saturday morning in January 2020, when he could upload ¨C resulted in 바카라사이트 virus genome being seen around 바카라사이트 world 52 minutes later,¡± Professor Scott told 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 Leadership and Management Summit in late October.

¡°Eddie understood that it was 30 years in 바카라사이트 lab in basic research that provided 바카라사이트 powerful practical translation that was a key stepping stone to 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 vaccine and 바카라사이트 world response to Covid-19.¡±

Professor Holmes has pioneered methods to reveal 바카라사이트 fundamental mechanisms of how viruses evolve and jump between species to cause and spread disease. He has also helped develop computational tools that enable precise tracking of 바카라사이트 spread and evolution of viruses.

The Prime Minister¡¯s Prizes for Science are considered Australia¡¯s most prestigious awards for scientific research, research-based innovation and excellence in STEM teaching. Professor Holmes¡¯ prize was not 바카라사이트 only gong for 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, with Michael Bowen ¨C an associate professor with Sydney¡¯s Brain and Mind Centre ¨C claiming 바카라사이트 Prize for New Innovators for his work driving scientific discoveries related to serious brain disorders that currently lack effective treatments.

Major awards also went to CSIRO astronomer Keith Bannister and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre oncologist Sherene?Loi.

john.ross@ws-2000.com