Celebrating Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC

Jian Zhou Memorial Oration, Brisbane

10 November 2022

Delivered by Professor Deborah Terry AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, The University of Queensland

Thank you, Paul.

I, too, would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we are meeting this evening and paying my respects to their elders past, present and emerging as we walk together on the path to Reconciliation.

I’d also like to acknowledge, as Paul has already:                                                                                                      

• Dr Zongze Ruan
• Dr Xiao-Yi Sun and Mr Andreas Zhou
• Our guest of honour this evening, Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC and his wonderful wife, Mrs Caroline Frazer
• Mr Peter Varghese AO,
• UQ colleagues, distinguished guests, one and all

It’s wonderful to be here this evening for the annual Jian Zhou Memorial Oration.

I’m delighted so many of you could join us for this fitting and continuing tribute to a man whose legacy has had a great impact – far greater than he might have imagined in his lifetime.

As co-discoverer of the vaccine that prevents cervical cancer, Dr Zhou brought national and international acclaim to UQ and, more importantly, helped protect the lives of millions of women around the globe.

In his memory, we host this annual lecture, showcasing distinguished virologists, researchers and experts in a field related to Dr Zhou’s interests.

This oration has had many distinguished speakers.

However, this year’s event is particularly special.

As always, it’s a memorial to Dr Zhou and his work, but it is also a celebration of the career of his research partner, who, earlier this year, announced his retirement.

I am of course, speaking about, Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ian always knew he wanted to be a scientist.

He trained as a physician and clinical immunologist at Edinburgh University, before moving to Melbourne in 1980 to pursue further studies in viral immunology and autoimmunology.

In 1985, Ian took up a teaching post here at the University of Queensland, and I’m very pleased to say that he never left.

He established the Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, where he focused on the link between the human papilloma virus and cervical cancer.

And it didn’t take long for Ian and his research team, to start seeing results.

By 1991, they had created a world first vaccine – the only vaccine to protect against cancer.

They began approaching drug companies for investment in development and clinical trials, and fifteen years later, the first vaccine was released.

Ian was very deservedly recognised for this achievement as Queenslander of the Year and Australian of the Year in 2006.

When he accepted the latter of these two awards, Ian explained that he was ‘driven by curiosity but also the desire to do good for other people.’

And it is this quote, which I think encapsulates Ian’s contribution, not only to science and medicine, but to his community and indeed the world.

Curiosity is the hallmark of scientific research.

All good scientists are curious.

However, the great scientists are far more than just curious.

The great scientists also have an awareness of the impact of their curiosity and how they can channel it to not only to pursue scientific breakthroughs, but to realise the benefits of their work for humanity and for society more broadly.

Or in Ian’s words, they have a genuine ‘desire to do good for other people.’

And there is no doubt that Ian’s curiosity has done an enormous amount of good for people.

The Gardasil vaccine has saved the lives of millions of women and, as the first vaccine in the world to protect against any kind of cancer, as a scientific discovery it has been ground-breaking in so many ways.

But Ian didn’t stop there.

In 2011, he relinquished directorship of the UQ Diamantina Institute – a role to which he was appointed in 1991 – to commence as the founding CEO and Director of Research for the newly-established, collaborative and cutting-edge Translational Research Institute.

In this role, he led the development of a world-leading biomedical research facility focused on translating scientific knowledge into benefits for patients, for clinicians, and for the broader community. 

In 2015, he relinquished this role to focus more on his research, which in recent years has included work on a new vaccine against genital herpes, a VLP-based vaccine against hepatitis C, and extensions to the VLP production technology for dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis vaccines, as well as the first vaccine for skin cancer.

And now, after 37 years at UQ, Ian is stepping back and into a very well-deserved retirement.

So, Ian, on this very special occasion, on behalf of the University, I want to express my sincere thanks for all you that have contributed to our institution over so many years.

Thank you for the world-class research that you’ve conducted with such precision and ambition.

Thank you for fulfilling your role as a teacher and a mentor to so many, with such humility and impact.

Thank you for being an enormously inspiring role model to our students, our staff, and the wider UQ community.

And thank you for the remarkable philanthropic contributions you and your wonderful wife Caroline have made as exceptionally generous donors and ambassadors for our university.

Ian, can I conclude by congratulating you on a magnificent career.

I know everyone here joins me in wishing you all the very best for the next stage of your life.

I’ll now hand back to Paul, to formally invite you to deliver your oration.