The award reflects Prof Visvader’s lifetime commitment to discovering improved ways to treat and prevent breast cancer, one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among females in Australia.

Prof Visvader said she was extremely honoured to receive the award, which recognises the work of an amazing team of scientists who have devoted decades to unravelling the breast cancer challenge.

“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside countless talented colleagues who have tirelessly worked to improve the outcomes for millions of people facing breast cancer,” she said.

“Science cannot be done as an island. It is very much a team effort.”

Prof Visvader is co-head of WEHI’s Breast Cancer Laboratory, together with Professor Geoff Lindeman. Her team’s most notable work has helped pave the way for identifying breast stem cells and the potential cells-of-origin for breast cancer arising in women with a faulty BRCA1 gene.

“Our research team has experienced a few eureka moments, which were immensely exciting,” she said.

“I’m proud that our laboratory has contributed to the breast cancer field by identifying key breast stem cells and their early-stage cells, which play a crucial role in understanding the disease.

“Importantly, this work has immediate clinical relevance and has culminated in an international prevention trial for breast cancer.”

Prof Visvader’s research has been particularly notable for its breadth, spanning from fundamental research discoveries through to clinical research.

Her team has investigated the molecular workings of cells within the breast, understanding how they develop and what goes wrong when cancers arise.

Prof Visvader’s passion and vision has taken discoveries in the basic biology of the breast to translate this into research, revealing new approaches in treatment and prevention that are benefitting people with breast cancer all over the world.

This is the third honorific acknowledgment that Prof Visvader has received in recent years for her tireless and impactful work in breast cancer research.

In 2020, Prof Visvader was one of only three Australians – and among 62 people worldwide – to be elected as a fellow of the UK’s esteemed national science academy, the Royal Society.

More recently, Prof Visvader and Prof Lindeman – also joint heads of the ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cells Division at WEHI – were recipients of the Royal Society’s 2024 Buchanan Medal.

Professor Visvader expressed her honour in receiving the award, not only for its recognition of her achievements but also for acknowledging her commitment in mentoring many women in science.

“I am also very proud of having the opportunity to mentor many talented scientists who have gone on to become highly successful and independent researchers. In fact, the majority of these have been women,” she said.

“There are extra challenges that young women can face and it is fantastic to see the growing support in and out of the workplace that can allow scientific careers not to be unfairly cut short.”

The Medal for Outstanding Female Researcher was established by the AAHMS in 2020 to recognise and celebrate outstanding Australian women researchers for exceptional and impactful contributions to health and medical science.

The award is made possible by a generous donation from The Gandevia Foundation.