A University of Queensland researcher who pioneered work into the cell biology of insulin action has been awarded the 1999 Glaxo Wellcome Australia Medal for breakthrough research applicable to human health.
Professor David James from the Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Queensland won the award for research which led to the discovery and cloning of GLUT4, the transport protein mediating the entry of glucose into muscle and fat cells.
These developments have contributed substantially to the understanding of cell biology in insulin action, fostering numerous international collaborations and generating hope for new treatment options for diabetes.
Premier Peter Beattie presented the award to Professor James at a presentation dinner for 160 guests in Brisbane on Monday November 8.
"I am delighted to present this prestigious award to an outstanding Queensland-based scientist whose work has been recognised as having future application in the treatment of diabetes, a disease which increasingly impacts on the health of our community," Mr Beattie said
"I offer my congratulations and extend my best wishes for the continuing success of this and further research in Queensland."
The Glaxo Wellcome Australia Medal has been awarded annually since 1980 to recognise outstanding research leading to important demonstrated or potential benefit to human health. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards within the Australian research community and is made on the recommendation of a number of eminent researchers in conjunction with Glaxo Wellcome Australia
Managing Director of Glaxo Wellcome Australia Steven Skolsky said his company
was committed to investing in the Australian scientific and research community to develop and commercialise discoveries internationally for the benefit of all Australians.
"It's our endeavour to bring discoveries from molecule to market," Mr Skolsky said,
"Professor James leads a team undertaking research that is vital to our understanding of the mechanism of insulin."
"His work, strengthened by numerous international collaborations, has contributed significantly to scientific knowledge of diabetes, and presents real potential for the development of new treatments for these diseases in the future."
Professor James is the nineteenth scientist to be awarded the medal. The medal and honorarium of $30,000 are provided to acknowledge the recipient's achievements to date and to help progress the work. A requirement of the Medal is that the majority of the research is undertaken in Australia.
BIOGRAPHY OF PROFESSOR DAVID JAMES
Professor David E. James has forged an outstanding research career in molecular and cellular biology, with particular expertise in the cell biology of insulin action. He is currently the NH&MRC Principal Research Fellow, Professorial Research Fellow and Associate Director of the Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Queensland, and Professorial Research Fellow, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Queensland.
He holds a PhD, a Bachelor of Science with First Class honours and in 1980 began his career as a Scientific Officer at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney.
Professor James is currently a member of the Australian Diabetes Society, the American Society for Cell Biology, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Australia New Zealand Society of Cell Biology. He is a member of the editorial board of four scientific journals and has authored 88 publications.
He is a past recipient of the Endocrine Society of Australia Junior Sandoz Award and the Marios Balodimos Prize awarded by the American Diabetes Association. From 1990 - 1993 he was honoured with the Career Development Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. From 1993 - 1997 Professor James held a Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship, and was made a Visiting Professor at the University of Western Australia. Since 1998 he has been an NH&MRC Principal Research Fellow, and in 1999 was made the FC Donders Visiting Professor, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Professor James's research career has made a major contribution to the understanding of the mechanism of insulin action. He is responsible for the discovery of a new glucose transporter, GLUT4, expressed solely in muscle and fat cells, later cloning the cDNA encoding this transporter.
The contribution by Professor James to the scientific community is recognised by his invitation to speak at over 100 international meetings and seminars, and his participation on high profile research and organising committees within Australia and the United States of America.
Professor James maintains an international reputation as a scientist of outstanding repute. His research on the cell biology of insulin action has lead to major research collaborations in Australia, the UK, Japan, the USA and The Netherlands.
