ASM Affairs
Microbiology Australia 43(2) 83-83 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA22027
Published: 29 June 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the ASM. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Congratulations to Professor Peter Timms on being honoured as a Queensland Great
The ASM congratulates Professor Peter Timms on being listed as one of eight Queensland Greats for the 2022 award round. Peter, who is based at the University of the Sunshine Coast, is a world expert in chlamydia infections in both humans and animals. He is leading a vaccine development program to safeguard koalas from extinction.
This year alone, as many as 1000 wild koalas in south-east Queensland will be given a single-shot vaccine developed by Peter and his team as part of the largest-ever trial to combat the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, which can lead to painful urinary tract infections, loss of bladder control, infertility, blindness and death. The vaccine provides three levels of protection to koalas: reduced infection levels circulating in the population, reduced progression to clinical disease, and even reversal of existing cases of the disease.
The Queensland Greats Award recognises extraordinary Queenslanders who have made a long-term contribution to, or whose achievements have significantly impacted, the history and development of Queensland. Peter’s achievements have been recognised with a commemorative plaque displayed proudly at Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane.
Peter has also been a long-time member of ASM, serving on ASM’s National Council and then on the National Examinations and Qualifications Board for 10 years, initially as a member and then as Chair.
Professor Peter Revill receives Queen’s Birthday Honour
Microbiologist and virologist Professor Peter Revill has received an AM (Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia) in the Queen s Birthday Honours for 2022. Professor Revill, Molecular Research and Development Group Head at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Doherty Institute, was honoured for his significant service to microbiology and immunology research.
Doherty Institute Director Professor Sharon Lewin congratulated Professor Revill, noting his important contribution to hepatitis research. ‘Professor Revill s research into the molecular virology of hepatitis B virus has advanced our understanding of this virus and his global leadership and advocacy has highlighted the importance of finding a cure for hepatitis B’, Professor Lewin said.
Professor Revill’s work has focused on the molecular virology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and played a key role in establishing the International Coalition to Eliminate Hepatitis B (ICE-HBV), in partnership with Professor Stephen Locarnini at VIDRL and Professor Fabien Zoulim at France s National Agency for AIDS Research (ANRS).
A Principal Research Fellow at the Department of Microbiology at the University of Melbourne, Professor Revill is also an executive member of the Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology, a member of the Australian Centre for Hepatitis Virology, the Australian Virology Society and the Victorian Infection and Immunity Network. Peter, along with Adam Taylor, is theme leader of virology for The Australian Society for Microbiology.
This announcement is an edited version of the Doherty Institute’s media release.
