All nominations for the 2006 Merck Sharp & Dohme Florey Medal have now been received and the winner will be announced at the Award Ceremony on 6 March 2007 at “Scientia” at the University of New South Wales.
The Award Selection Committee comprised:
Professor Fred Mendelsohn Professor Rick McLean Professor Aileen Plant Dr Fiona Wood Dr Graham McDonald Mr Robyn Williams Professor Peter Rathjen[name] Professor Judith Whitworth Professor John Chalmers Professor Frank Fenner
AIPS wishes to express many thanks to all who submitted applications; these were of the highest quality.
For further information on the Award and or Award Ceremony, contact Dorothy Davis, Executive Officer, Australian Institute of Policy and Science on (02) 9810 5642.
OVERVIEW
In celebration of the centenary of the birth of Howard Walter Florey in 1998, the Florey Medal was inaugurated and first awarded as part of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science's Tall Poppy Campaign. The award has been made biennially since that time and is being sponsored from 2006 by Merck Sharpe & Dohme.
The 2006 Merck Sharp & Dohme Florey Medal will be awarded to an Australian, or Australians, for a milestone achievement in biomedical science and human health advancement arising from research carried out in Australia. The Award carries a prize of $25,000.
CONDITIONS OF AWARD
The 2006 Merck Sharp & Dohme Florey Medal may be awarded to an individual or awarded jointly to up to three persons who share the $25,000 prize money.
Persons, who have already received a major international award such as the Nobel Prize or the Japan Prize for the nominated achievement, will not normally be considered for the award of the 2006 Merck Sharp & Dohme Florey Medal.
Awardees will normally be expected to attend the presentation ceremony and to participate in media briefings and science promotion events associated with the Medal over the following year.
Written confidential nominations will be sought from appropriate learned and professional bodies, universities, research institutes, organisations and individuals. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
FORMAT AND CONTENT OF NOMINATION
A nomination should include:
Nominee's details
Nominator's details
Names/contact details of up to three additional supporters
Curriculum vitae of nominee of not more than 3 pages (key publications up to one page should be listed separately)
A description of the nominated achievement and its significance (up to 200 words)
A maximum of 2 pages which address the following:
– Why does this work represent a milestone achievement in biomedical science and human health advancement?
– What is the special significance of the nominee's contribution as compared to other work in this field?
– Why does the nominee deserve the award when compared to other scientists and their contributions to other fields?
CONDITIONS OF AWARD
The 2006 Merck Sharp & Dohme Florey Medal may be awarded to an individual or awarded jointly to up to three persons who share the $25,000 prize money.
Awardees will normally be expected to attend the presentation ceremony and to participate in media briefings and science promotion events associated with the Medal over the following year.
Written confidential nominations will be sought from appropriate learned and professional bodies, universities, research institutes, organisations and individuals. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
All materials considered by the Medal Selection Committee and its deliberations will remain confidential.
Previous winners
1998
Professors Barry Marshall and Robin Warren (recipients of the 2005 Nobel Prize for Medicine) for discovery of bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease
2000
Professor Jacques Miller for his discovery of the function of the thymus
2002
Professor Colin Masters for work on Alzheimer's disease
2004
Professor Peter Colman for structural biology research, particularly for the discovery of a new class of anti-influenza drugs
AIPS/Tall Poppy Campaign
The Tall Poppy Campaign was created by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science in 1998 to recognise Australia's high achievers and to inspire an interest in science in younger Australians.
SPONSOR
Merck Sharp & Dohme is committed to improving the health and quality of life of Australians by developing innovative, high quality medicines. Employing over 800 people, Merck Sharp & Dohme produces treatments for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and asthma, and manufactures and distributes medicines to the value of AUD$1 billion to 37 countries each year. Merck Sharp & Dohme is among Australia’s 35 largest contributors to R&D, and currently manages over 3 clinical trials at around 100 centres nationally.
