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AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF POLICY AND SCIENCE
6 November 2009
<EMBARGOED until 7.00 pm Monday 9 November 2009>
Top SA medical researcher honoured nationally:
Just the tip of the iceberg - Hope for inherited childhood disorders
Professor John Hopwood, South Australian Scientist of the Year 2008, will this evening follow in the footsteps
of some of Australia’s greatest medical researchers, including immediate past winner Professor Ian Frazer and
Nobel Laureates Professors Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, by being awarded the 2009 CSL Florey Medal.
Hopwood says: “we are just tipping the iceberg.” He is most of all excited about the processes his team has
discovered that will concern us all, as well as his team’s achievements helping the many children affected.
Professor Hopwood today joins a cohort of extraordinary Australian medical researchers who are at the
forefront of breakthroughs globally, and who have dedicated their lives to basic research all the way through
to making a difference to our lives through prevention and treatment.
This prestigious honour is part of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science’s Tall Poppy Campaign and takes
its name from Australia’s first Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Sir Howard Florey, who made an indelible impact
on world health by developing penicillin. The winner receives a $25,000 prize and a hand sculpted silver medal.
Hopwood first formed the Lysosomal Diseases Research Unit in 1976 in South Australia. This Unit is the only
group researching lysosomal storage disorders nationally and is the largest multidisciplinary group working on
them world-wide. The Unit is world-renowned for its research capabilities and the translation of research
findings into state-of-the art diagnostic services.
Lysosomal diseases are genetically inherited and affect about 1 in 5,000 babies, with recent findings suggesting
maybe up to about 1 in 1,000. Symptoms are progressive and impact on many body organs including the
skeleton, heart, lungs and brain with devastating effects.
Hopwood’s Unit has generated several world firsts, particularly the isolation of genes involved in some of
these disorders and the development of first ever FDA-approved treatments for two disorders which were
marketed world-wide in 2005 and 2006. These outcomes meant improved quality of life for patients and multi-
million dollar royalty returns to South Australia, representing the largest public sector commercialisation
outcome for that state, and possibly Australia.
Ongoing research commercialisation is well advanced to enable screening and the development of effective
therapies for lysosomal disorders affecting the brain.
Professor Peter Rathjen, AIPS Director, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Melbourne and
Chair of the 2009 CSL Florey Medal Selection Committee says the bi-annual accolade was created in 1998, the
centenary of Sir Howard Florey’s birth, to celebrate world standing achievements in biomedical science and
human health advancement by Australian researchers.
“Many top ranking scientists were in the running for this year’s medal, a testament to the excellence in
Australian medical research. Professor Hopwood was the winner, reflecting the quality of his long term
dedication from basic research through to clinical outcomes,” he says.
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“John Hopwood is an Australian medical researcher whom we should celebrate, and who should stand high on
the Australian and world stage for his achievements, alongside other great Australian medical researchers.”
“John is a man of vision who, through basic research, persistence and commitment, has accumulated and
harnessed scientific knowledge and techniques to achieve his stated goal of ‘early diagnosis and effective
therapy of lysosomal storage disorders’ – this amounts to a massive cumulative achievement, and perhaps
only his patients can truly speak for his achievements, ” says Elektra Spathopoulos, Executive Director, AIPS.
John Hopwood comments: “It is important that biomedical scientists receive recognition for the perseverance
that is required for real outcomes through research. For this I am thankful for this award. It is important that
we also recognise all the clinicians and scientists involved. But neither they nor I would be where they are
without the patients and families, nor would our work have any meaning without their need. “
Where & When:
Monday 9 November
Doltone House Loft, Jones Bay Wharf
Pyrmont Point, Sydney
6.30pm for 7.00 pm - 10.00 pm (Awards ceremony)
Who:
Professor John Hopwood, and:
Professor Peter Rathjen, Director AIPS/DVC Research University of
Melbourne/Chair CSL Florey Medal selection committee
Tony Sherbon, CEO SA Health (and ten others from SA) with Minister Hill
happy to comment though not attending on the night
Dr Andrew Cuthbertson, Chief Scientific Officer, CSL Limited
Elektra Spathopoulos, Executive Director AIPS
Hon. Mark Butler MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health
AAMRI President Professor Robert Graham AO
Hon. Jody McKay, NSW Minister for Science & Medical Research
Background:
For exclusives, interviews with John Hopwood, to attend the Awards, more information or images contact:
Elektra Spathopoulos, Executive Director AIPS – M: 0422 204 790 or T: (02) 9351 0819
Or email director@aips,net.au
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CITATION FOR PROFESSOR JOHN HOPWOOD
Professor Hopwood is honoured with the 2009 CSL Florey Medal for his life-long work into the diagnosis and
treatment of genetically inherited disorders that affect children with devastating clinical effects leading to
progressive destruction of the brain and other organs.
Born in Melbourne, and educated at the Swinburne Institute and then Monash University, Hopwood first
formed the Lysosomal Diseases Research Unit in 1976.
From basic science to clinical trials, through to clinical outcomes and commercialisation, Professor Hopwood
has dedicated three decades of research, discovery and personal perseverance in the service of human health
advancement for the sufferers of lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) which affect at least one in 5,000 babies if
not one in 1,000, as recent research suggests. Recently, lysosomes have become implicated in otherwise
unexplained stroke and heart disease, cancers and neurodegenerative disorders.
Professor Hopwood today heads a group of more than 30 researchers through SA Pathology at the Adelaide's
Women's and Children's Hospital, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of LSD, and was awarded the South
Australian of the Year (Science) Award in 2008 amongst other accolades. Hopwood and his team have
developed a novel program to enable newborn screening for these disorders. His unit has achieved world-first
treatments for two lysosomal storage diseases that have dramatically improved clinical outcomes for patients
worldwide, numerous patents, as well as FDA-approved drugs and commercial licenses and attracted over $30
million in competitive research funding, to date.
John Hopwood’s research is world leading. He has displayed continuous and humble dedication and
effectiveness in relating to LSD patients and their families alongside his research team, clinicians, global
colleagues and pharmaceutical companies. John is a man of vision who, through basic research, persistence
and commitment, has accumulated and harnessed scientific knowledge and techniques to achieve his stated
goal of “early diagnosis and effective therapy of lysosomal storage disorders”. Without his efforts, thousands
worldwide would be without diagnosis, therapy or the hope that either would ever come.
2009 CSL FLOREY MEDAL SELECTION COMMITTEE
Professor Peter Rathjen - Chair
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) – and AIPS
Director
The University of Melbourne
Professor Warwick Anderson AM
Chief Executive Officer
NHMRC
Professor Suzanne Cory
Director
Walter Eliza Hall Institute
Professor Geoffrey Donnan
Director
Florey Institute
Steven Dower
Head of Protein Biochemistry
Honorary Professor, Bio21 Institute
Professor Ian Frazer
Director
Diamantina Institute for Cancer,
Immunology and Metabolic Medicine, QIMR
Professor Peter Schofield
Executive Director and CEO
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute
Professor Fiona Wood
Winthrop Professor
Burn Injury Research Unit
The University of Western Australia
NEWS 
