One of UQ’s leading materials science experts, Professor Chengzhong (Michael) Yu, has been awarded a high-profile prize from the Australian Academy of Science.
Professor Yu, group leader at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, has been recognised with the 2015 Le Févre Memorial Prize for his scientific research which ranges from developing new ways to deliver vaccines to improved water-treatment technologies.
UQ Provost and Senior Vice-President Professor Max Lu said Professor Yu was an outstanding physical chemist who had made significant contributions in the innovation, design, preparation and application of novel nanomaterials.
“He has developed new strategies to design nanomaterials and is working on a diverse range of applications for these materials,” Professor Lu said.
The many different applications offered by the new materials include drug and vaccine delivery, battery materials and water-treatment technologies.
Among the research undertaken by the Yu group at UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology is the design of nanoparticles that mimic a virus to deliver medicines to diseased or damaged cells.
“Nanoparticles show promise as a platform for targeted delivery in gene therapy, cancer treatment and drug delivery,” Professor Yu said.
His group has also engineer nanomaterials to remove toxins and other unwanted compounds from water and to develop functional materials for lithium-ion batteries, a technology which has monopolised the power-supply market for portable electronics since 1990.
The Le Fèvre Memorial Prize commemorates the work of the late Professor RJW Le Fèvre and recognises outstanding scientific research in chemistry.
Professor Yu was presented with his $3000 Le Fèvre Memorial Prize at the Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s annual awards presentation.
Australian Academy of Science 2015 award winners
Early-career research awards:
- Professor Chengzhong Yu, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland — 2015 Le Fèvre Memorial Prize for research in basic chemistry.
- Associate Professor Tamara Davis, School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland — 2015 Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science.
- Dr Jian Yang, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland — 2015 Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for distinguished research in human genetics.
Travelling fellowships:
Mr Hien Duy Nguyen, School of Mathematics and Physics, The University of Queensland — 2015 AK Head Travelling Scholarship for Mathematical Scientists.
Media: Ruth Neale, 07 3346 3965, r.neale1@uq.edu.au
