Salk Institute's unique honour for Prof Don Metcalf

Tuesday, December 6th 2005

The Inaugural Salk Medal for Research Excellence has been presented to Professor Don Metcalf at a prestigious ceremony in La Jolla, California. Professor Metcalf was a nominee for the medal among other eminent scientists worldwide and was awarded the medal on the vote of the scientific staff of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

The medal (see image below) was designed by Paloma Picasso and has been introduced by the Salk Institute as part of its fortieth anniversary celebrations. In the future, the medal will be awarded on a bi-annual basis.

The medal citation notes that "Metcalf is a pioneer of the bench-to-bedside revolution, designed to take research all the way through to the successful treatment of human disease. His basic research discoveries enabled the development of biological entities to accelerate the regrowth of blood cells in people with cancer, following chemotherapy, bone marrow or peripheral blood transplantation...He and his team discovered the 'colony stimulating factors' (CSFs), proteins that control white blood cell formation and are, therefore, responsible for a person's resistance to infection. His collaborators then documented the effectiveness of GM-CSF and G-CSF (two primary white blood cell regulators) when injected into patients. These blood cell regulators are now in extensive clinical use around the world."

To date, over five million cancer patients worldwide have been the beneficiaries of the CSFs.

Reflecting on the presentation of the medal, Professor Metcalf said, "I am greatly honoured to receive this unique award from one of America's most distinguished research institutes. It recognizes research work over a thirty year period by a large and talented local team, leading to major improvements in the management of patients with cancer and leukaemia."

WEHI's Director, Professor Suzanne Cory, added, "WEHI scientists are very proud of this latest accolade to Professor Metcalf, which adds further lustre to the reputation of Australian medical research in the eyes of the international community."

The central rectangle of the medal shows a prospect of the Salk Institute, looking west over the 110 metre high seaside cliffs of La Jolla towards the Pacific Ocean.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Brad Allan

WEHI Communications Manager
Phone: (03) 9345 2345
Mobile: 0403 036 116
Email: allan@wehi.edu.au