News

17 Jun 2021

Marios Koutsakos and Sharon Lewin among recipients of 2020 NHMRC Awards

Dr Marios Koutsakos and Professor Sharon Lewin have been recognised in the 2020 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Research Excellence Awards and Biennial Awards announced last night.

Dr Koutsakos recently joined the Kent Laboratory as a postdoctoral research fellow, following the completion of his PhD in the Kedzierska Laboratory. He was awarded the Frank Fenner Investigator Grant Award for his research project in understanding immunity to influenza B viruses for a rationally designed universal vaccine.

He is currently working on the development of a universal influenza B vaccine and is studying the fundamental biology of immune responses to vaccines. His work on pre-clinical development of universal vaccines and immunity in high-risk groups, has been of extreme importance.

“The impact of influenza B viruses on children can be severe. A better understanding of the generation of broadly cross-reactive immune response to these viruses will aid development of universal influenza vaccines,” Dr Koutsakos said.

“I feel very honoured and humbled to be recognised by this award. I am thankful for the NHMRC fellowship and the support it provides to my research on influenza B immunology and our quest for a universal influenza vaccine.

“Research is best done collaboratively and as part of a team.  I am very grateful to everyone in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and across the Doherty Institute who has supported me over the last few years.  I am thankful to my PhD supervisor, Prof Katherine Kedzierska, for her support and mentorship during my PhD.”

Professor Sharon Lewin was also recognised for her contribution to the response in Australia and globally to the HIV pandemic and through COVID-19, with the NHMRC Outstanding Contributions Award (awarded biennially).

“Professor Lewin is an exceptional researcher, leader, communicator and advocate,” the award citation states.

“Her contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic has been thoughtful, measured, clear and compassionate, and is one of the reasons Australia is in such a good place in 2021.

“Professor Lewin personifies excellence in research leadership, and her contribution over the past two decades has been nothing short of outstanding.”

Read more about Professor Lewin's award and comments on Australia's preparedness in the Herald Sun.