David Vaux: 2005 Federation Fellow

Friday, July 8th 2005

Professor David Vaux's research into cell development and apoptosis will take him to La Trobe University as a Federation Fellow.

Reflecting on his work, Professor Vaux comments, “Apoptosis is the normal and healthy process by which most animal cells self-destruct. Apoptosis of the wrong cells, or the failure of faulty or worn out cells to die when they should, has been observed in almost every disease.

“The health of a cell depends on its ability to control the intracellular environment. Study of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis protein family has led to the discovery of a mechanism that controls protein abundance within cells. Analysis of the mechanisms of apoptosis and protein homeostasis will increase our understanding of these fundamental biological processes, providing novel avenues for the treatment of heart attacks and diseases such as cancer.

“Understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell death is the first step towards developing drugs that can cause cancer cells to kill themselves or prevent cells from dying when they should not.”

Professor Vaux is currently Senior Principal Research Fellow in WEHI’s Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, a Scholar of the Leukemia Society of America, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and a winner of the Victoria Prize, the Gottschalk Medal of the Australian Academy of Science and the Glaxo Wellcome Australia medal.

WEHI Director, Professor Suzanne Cory, commented, “David is quite obviously a scientist of great talent and creativity. His contributions to WEHI and the broader scientific world have been remarkable. I’m sure that his achievements will continue to flourish in his new environment at La Trobe University.”

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Brad Allan

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