A University of Queensland PhD student aiding the fight against skin cancer has been named the 2004 Young Queenslander of the Year.
Twenty-four-year-old Leisl Packer is researching the genetic background of melanomas in an attempt to find new ways of treating the disease.
Ms Packer, who graduated from UQ in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science with first class honours in biochemistry in the School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, said her research was aimed at understanding the genes behind melanoma.
“Queensland has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world and this research is therefore highly relevant for all Queenslanders,” she said.
“The research will help to get a better understanding of melanoma development.”
Ms Packer is based at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and is studying under the supervision of Dr Sandra Pavey and Dr Nicholas Hayward.
A University Medal winner, Ms Packer said in her role as Young Queenslander of the Year she hoped to attend international conferences promoting Queensland as an important centre for medical research.
Ms Packer received her Young Queenslander of the Year award at a ceremony at Parliament House on Monday, June 7. The award was established in 1989 to recognise inspirational young Queenslanders.
Leader of the international HyShot program Professor Allan Paull from the University’s Centre for Hypersonics was one of four people nominated for the Queenslander of the Year award, which was won by Cherbourg State School Principal Chris Sarra.
On July 31, 2002, the HyShot team achieved success with the world’s first flight test of supersonic combustion, the process used in an air-breathing supersonic ramjet engine, known as a scramjet.
Media: For more information or photos, contact Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479, email: c.saxby@uq.edu.au).
