ANU Immunology Pioneer Elected To The Royal Society

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 19 May 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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Immunology pioneer Professor Chris Goodnow from The Australian National University has been elected as a Fellow of the prestigious UK and Commonwealth academy of science, The Royal Society.

Professor Goodnow, 49, is Head of the Program in Immunology and Chief Scientific Officer of the Australian Phenomics Facility at the John Curtin School of Medical Research at ANU. He has pioneered in the field of immunology by using mouse molecular genetics to reveal key mechanisms regulating the immune system, in particular the ability of the immune system to learn to differentiate between our own 'self' tissues and invading foreign microbes. He has also revealed the capacity of the immune system to lay down specific memory of both self and foreign, so that autoimmunity is minimised while immunity to infection becomes strong.

His work has changed the conceptual framework of the field by showing that tolerance to self is acquired through a series of 'regulatory checkpoints' at many steps in the maturation of immune cells.

His election as a Fellow to The Royal Society, confirmed today, puts him alongside current Fellows including Stephen Hawking and Richard Dawkins. Past Fellows have included Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

"This wonderful honour is especially pleasing because it recognises the quality and impact of Australia's research and training to solve problems of immunity, particularly autoimmune diseases," said Professor Goodnow.

"I am very deeply indebted and grateful for many brilliant mentors, colleagues and students, and especially for all the support ANU has given me to make our work successful. There are few universities in the world where it would have been possible to initiate an entirely new research approach, as we have been able to do."

His election to The Royal Society has been welcomed by ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb.

"Professor Goodnow is a pioneering scientist who has not only made significant discoveries that have and will continue to enhance the lives of countless people throughout the world, but has also changed the way we think about immunology. His work epitomises the best of Australian science and why we punch well above our weight on the world scientific stage.

"I congratulate Professor Goodnow on this prestigious, and utterly deserved, recognition," said Professor Chubb.

Source
Australian National University