Professor Rob Sutherland, Director of Garvan’s Cancer Research Program, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) “for distinguished service to medicine as an international contributor to the research of cancer, the development of Australia's research capacity and through leadership roles in advisory bodies.” Announced this morning in The Queen’s Birthday 2010 Honours List, he was one of 21 people to receive the AO.

Over the past 25 years, Professor Sutherland has established one of Australia's largest cancer research programs, predominantly in the fields of breast and prostate cancer. Output from the program has included over 300 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, as well as several patents covering new methods of detecting cancer and new treatment strategies.

In 2002, Professor Sutherland was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science; in 2003 he was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal for his service to Australian society and science in molecular and cellular biology; in 2009 he was awarded Life Membership of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation; and last month he was awarded the NSW Premier's Award for Outstanding Cancer Researcher 2010 ( click here to see Garvan's media release).

Professor Sutherland has served on various committees of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Cancer Council NSW, the Cancer Institute NSW and Cancer Australia. He is also a former Board member of the Cancer Council NSW and the Cancer Institute NSW. 

He has been appointed Director of The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, a translational cancer research centre, currently under construction, where clinical challenges will drive laboratory research. The joint initiative with St. Vincent’s Hospital, expected to open in late 2011, will focus on the realisation of personalised medicine for cancer patients.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Alison Heather
Science Communications Manager
Garvan Institute of Medical Research
+61 2 9295 8128
+61 434 071 326
a.heather “at” garvan.org.au