2009 South Australian Award Winner

Dr Alice Rumbold

The University of Adelaide & Menzies School of Health Research – South Australian Young Tall Poppy of the Year 2009 Alice investigates the causes and consequences of women’s reproductive health problems. Recently her research has been directed to improving outcomes for Aboriginal women, by studying the occurrence and impact of common infections such as Human Papillomavirus…

Read More »


Dr Chris Sumby

The University of Adelaide Christopher makes new chemical compounds, using weak links between components to form cage-like structures much larger than regular molecules. The synthesis of such cage-like structures, which can trap guest molecules within a central cavity, may feature in new modes of drug delivery, or could be used as nanoscale flasks in which…

Read More »


Dr Claudine Bonder

Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology Claudine studies the intricate network of blood vessels that carry cells throughout our body. Her laboratory works with endothelial cells, the cells that line the blood vessels, and uses leading technology to better understand their role in normal and disease states. Claudine’s vision of identifying and then targeting what…

Read More »


Dr Hugh Harris

University of Adelaide Hugh looks at what happens when metals enter a living organism, and uses new technologies, often synchrotron-based, to identify the location of metals and their chemical form in cells and tissues. With this information he hopes to determine precisely what metals are doing in the body, good or bad, and their roles…

Read More »


Dr Joanne Bowen

University of Adelaide Joanne looks into the reasons why some people are more likely than others to have severe side effects during the course of their anti-cancer treatment. She is also interested in how the lining of the gut is affected by anti-cancer agents, and investigating new drugs that may be able to protect the gut…

Read More »


Dr Karen Murphy

University of South Australia Karen’s research aims to determine how diet can improve physical and mental health throughout the lifespan. More specifically, she studies how functional foods and nutrients can help people improve their cardiovascular health and psychological wellbeing, such as memory. By working with volunteers from the public, Karen enjoys an ability to observe…

Read More »


Dr Kathryn Burdon

Flinders University Vision is a thing most people take for granted, but it is one of the most precious and most relied on attributes in daily life. The overall aim of Kathryn’s research is to find out which genes cause diseases that can lead to blindness. Working on common diseases including cataract, glaucoma, keratoconus and diabetic…

Read More »


Dr Matthew Haren

University of South Australia Matt’s research focuses on health and wellbeing issues that are considered important by regional communities. Working with communities to address these issues, Matt concentrates on aspects of health and wellbeing related to obesity and ageing. Matt researches ways to address factors that impact on obesity and ageing, including social conditions, natural and…

Read More »


Dr Nam Nguyen

Royal Adelaide Hospital & The University of Adelaide Nam is a practising medical doctor who specialises in the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. His clinical research focuses on the function of the gut in critically ill patients, strategies to achieve weight loss in the obese, and techniques to improve outcomes in people with pancreatic cancer. Nam’s…

Read More »


Dr Travis Elsdon

University of Adelaide Travis studies fish and estuaries, and his work focus on understanding water quality and fish movements. He uses chemicals within fish earbones to determine movements, migrations, and stock structure of fish, and also uses stable isotopes to determine fish diet. As the world becomes more reliant on natural resources, such as fish, Travis…

Read More »