2006 Jamie Callachor Eureka Prize for Medical Research

2006 Winner

Dr Michael Valenzuela
Clinical Neuroscience Research Fellow in the School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales
For a series of studies which have shed light on the role of mental activity in the development of Alzheimer's Disease at both the basic-science and community level. Michael’s integration of epidemiological reports across more than 29,000 individuals was the first in the field and found that complex mental activity across the lifespan is associated with an almost 50% reduction in dementia risk. By combining these results with innovative neuroimaging research, his work has been influential in current discussion of a large-scale clinical trial to determine whether mental exercises in the elderly can help prevent dementia.
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2006 Finalists

Professor Bruce Brew
Head of Neurology at St Vincent’s Hospital
For research into how HIV causes brain damage and how this applies to other brain diseases, particularly Alzheimer's. By studying the effects of HIV on the brain, Bruce and his team have isolated biochemical pathways that are a contributing cause of damage in many brain diseases. The research allows for the development of an entirely new class of drugs to treat brain diseases.

Professor Trevor Kilpatrick
Professor of Neurology and Director of the Centre for Neuroscience, and Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Howard Florey Institute
For major contributions to the field of multiple sclerosis (MS) research. Through large-scale genetic and epidemiological studies combined with novel laboratory work, Trevor has made major advances in identifying novel therapeutic targets for MS. Trevor has also identified biomarkers that will assist practitioners determine risk, diagnosis and prognosis for those who suffer from MS, improving the overall management of this debilitating disease.