Professor Alistair Forrest from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research has been selected alongside 27 new Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
Professor Forrest is internationally regarded for his pioneering work, which has been driving forward our understanding of human diseases and the complex behaviour of cells.
His efforts leading large international teams have helped reveal how cancer cells interact and impact disease outcomes, contributed to new and better ways to screen for devastating genetic diseases, and has made important contributions in the area of personalised medicine.
Those chosen to be Fellows of the AAHMS are some of the nation’s best and brightest medical and health researchers and can engage with community, industry and governments on behalf of the Academy.
Professor Alistair Forrest said he was honoured to be selected as a AAHMS Fellow.
“This is a special privilege and I hope my election to the Academy will help showcase some of the incredible discoveries being made here in WA,” Professor Forrest said.
“I am enormously proud to be recognised by my peers with this honour and to have the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of improved health and better outcomes.”
Director of the Perkins, Professor Peter Leedman, congratulated Professor Forrest and praised his outstanding achievements in the pursuit of better health for the community.
“Professor Forrest has made significant contributions to the medical research landscape in Australia,” Professor Leedman said.
“His work in uncovering more about how our bodies function and fight disease will help us find better solutions for some of the nation’s major health crises.”
“Perth is home to an enormous breadth of talent and expertise, all of whom are driven to deliver better outcomes for those facing disease.”
The new Fellows have been elected at a time when the value of health and medical science is especially evident and researchers are making a crucial impact on the nation’s future, such as in the fight against COVID-19.
The new Fellows were announced yesterday at AAHMS’s Online Scientific Meeting 2020.