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Tuesday, 6 December, 2011

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) congratulates Professor and RACP Fellow John Rasko as the 50th winner of the Eric Susman Prize 2011. This award recognises Professor Rasko’s contributions to the field of adult stem cells research and the application of this work to internal medicine.

The Eric Susman Prize is awarded annually to a Fellow of the College for the most outstanding contribution to the knowledge of any branch of internal medicine. The Prize is one of the College’s most prestigious and important awards, with the inaugural award made in 1962.

Professor Rasko is the Head of the Department of Cell & Molecular Therapies at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and is an internationally recognised leader in clinical stem cell therapy and genetic medicine. He also heads the Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program at the Centenary Institute of the University of Sydney.

RACP President Professor John Kolbe noted the exceptional work of Professor Rasko in improving patient outcomes with bone marrow transplants, a procedure that more than 25,000 people experience worldwide annually. Bone marrow transplants are an important procedure in the treatment of haematological malignancy including some forms of leukaemia.

“John Rasko has achieved outstanding results through his ongoing research,” Professor Kolbe said. “He has dedicated his career to increasing the understanding of stem cells, and to discoveries that improve results for patients with serious genetic disorders. He is a true leader and pioneer in the research community and John is a worthy recipient of the Eric Susman Prize.”

The past 25 years have witnessed an improvement in the outcome of patients with haematological malignancies, however bone marrow transplantation is often limited by the accessibility of viable stem cells – in quality and number. Professor Rasko’s research addressed this problem, by discovering ways in which to increase cell numbers prior to transplant.

Professor Antony Basten, also a Fellow of the RACP, nominated Professor Rasko for the prestigious award. “John’s contribution to internal medicine represents 20 years of pioneering work in human biology and genetics,” Professor Antony Basten said. “His dedication to improving patient outcomes is reflected in his practice of clinical medicine at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and in his teaching role at the University of Sydney. John is a fine example of the new generation of clinician scientists who are destined to play an important role over the next few decades in translating the advances in basic medical science into effective and ethical practice.”

Ongoing research in this field of medicine by innovators such as Professor Rasko is vital to improving quality of life for those affected by haematological malignancies. Professor Rasko is calling for increased investment in funding gene and cellular therapy.

The RACP’s Research and Education Fund (REF) will honour Professor Rasko and other RACP Award recipients and REF donors at a reception this Wednesday 7 December. The REF awards more than $1.6 million annually to research grants and scholarships for medical projects. Stem cells: stem cells are cells that are able to develop into different types of cells. They are unique, in that they have a regenerative ability which enables them to be applied in the treatment of various degenerative diseases and blood cancers. About 1,100 stem cell transplants to treat blood cancer are carried out in Australia each year.

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About The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP): The RACP trains, educates and advocates on behalf of more than 13,500 physicians – often referred to as medical specialists – and 5,000 trainees, across Australia and New Zealand. The College represents more than 25 medical specialties including paediatrics & child health, cardiology, respiratory medicine, neurology, oncology and public health medicine, occupational & environmental medicine, palliative medicine, sexual health medicine, rehabilitation medicine and addiction medicine. Beyond the drive for medical excellence, the RACP is committed to developing health and social policies which bring vital improvements to the wellbeing of patients.

www.racp.edu.au

ENDS

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