Australia Day award for infertility expert
(sz) An infertility expert whose scientific interest was sparked while growing up on a sheep station is among those recognised this Australia Day.
Professor Jock Findlay of Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, has been made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for his contribution to the field of reproductive endocrinology.
It is the latest in a line of honours for Findlay, who is one of the original collaborators on a paper in the journal Nature that reported the first successful in vitro fertilisation pregnancy using hormone replacement to prepare the uterus.
But Findlay says this latest recognition is a “completely unexpected honour”.
As well as being awarded a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) in 2001, Findlay’s work in understanding the ovary has been recognised internationally.
He has been previously awarded for his finding that the regulation of egg development and ovulation is not just hormonally based.
Rather, interactions between cells in the ovary, he calls “local regulation”, also play a significant role.
Findlay says this knowledge can lead to improved outcomes in stimulating women to produce eggs in IVF procedures.
In 2006, Findlay was awarded the Dale Medal by the UK Society for Endocrinology for his studies that changed fundamental understanding of endocrinology.
And in the same year became the first Australian to receive the Distinguished Scientist Award from the UK Society for Reproduction and Fertility. more…
From: »ABC« (Australia)