Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, Chief Executive Officer and Institute Director at NeuRA and Scientia Professor of Neuroscience at UNSW has won the prestigious 2024 GSK Award for Research Excellence for his work in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia.
As an internationally renowned neuroscientist, Professor Kiernan is known for introducing techniques that allow scientists to study how nerve cells communicate with one another. His discoveries have elevated global understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease, which has helped scientists to identify new therapeutic targets.
Accepting the accolade, Professor Kiernan says he is hopeful that conditions like dementia will be manageable within the next two decades, with clinical trials of new innovative therapies now underway across the globe because of his research.
Professor Kiernan commented: “It’s an honour to be named the 2024 recipient of the GSK Award for Research Excellence and have our work recognised in this way.
“It’s an exciting time to be working within the field of neuroscience. For a long time, one of the key challenges facing neurologists was understanding how neurodegeneration begins in the brain. Our research has provided key information about the critical functional changes that occur prior to the onset of a neurodegenerative disease.
“We are now able to delineate between the normal function of the brain and the key mechanisms of disease. This new perspective is paving the way for innovative therapies and treatment options for conditions like MND and frontotemporal dementia,” Professor Kiernan said.
Dr Bec Sheean, Director of Research and Programs at FightMND, said Professor Kiernan’s research has been critical to understanding more about MND – a condition that affects the nerves in the body controlling movement and eventually leading to complete paralysis. Approximately two Australians are diagnosed with the condition daily and there are currently limited registered treatment options. The average life expectancy is 27 months from diagnosis.
Dr Sheean commented: “Professor Kiernan is one of Australia’s leading MND neurologists and his research is not only helping to advance our understanding of this terrible disease but also providing hope and opportunities for Australian patients to participate in clinical trials. On behalf of Neale Daniher and all the team at FightMND, we congratulate Professor Kiernan on receiving this prestigious award and know his work is making a difference for all people who are impacted by this condition. Research is the best way we can fight back against this disease and Professor Kiernan is championing efforts in this fight to pave the way for new and effective treatment options.”
Already, Professor Kiernan’s work has helped define a diagnostic criteria for neurodegenerative diseases and established consensus guidelines that have now been adopted by the World Federation of Neurology.
Professor Kiernan says he will use the $100,000 AUD grant accompanying the GSK Award for Research Excellence to establish a clinical fellowship to underpin the development of a national clinical trials program. This will improve patient access to new trials and enable more robust assessment of clinical data.
Professor Kiernan added: “Further developing our national clinical trials program is a major priority for our team. This grant provides an important opportunity to establish a clinical fellowship focused on translational research and precision medicine approaches for all patients across Australia.”
The 2024 GSK Award for Research Excellence will be presented to Professor Kiernan at Research Australia’s Health and Medical Research Awards 2024 in Melbourne. Dr Alan Paul, Executive Country Medical Director at GSK Australia, said GSK is proud to continue supporting Australian research.
Dr Paul commented: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Kiernan to the distinguished list of the GSK Award for Research Excellence alumni members. His outstanding work deserves recognition – he really is paving the way when it comes to neurodegeneration research. We are thrilled to support Matthew and his team, as they continue their endeavor to improve health outcomes for patients locally and globally.”
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs congratulated Prof. Kiernan on his prestigious award.
Professor Attila Brungs commented: “Matthew’s research has had a significant impact on our understanding of motor neurone disease and dementia and will undoubtedly help Australians impacted by these diseases in many years to come.
“We’re proud of Matthew’s outstanding contribution to medical research and the recognition he has received is incredibly well deserved for a lifetime of dedication. Research into these devastating brain diseases is crucial to discovering new treatments and improving the quality of life for those affected.”
UNSW Dean of Medicine & Health Professor Cheryl Jones said: “We congratulate Matthew on this prestigious award. It reflects his international leadership in neurodegenerative diseases including clinical trials of innovative therapies positions. The benefits of his work will resonate for years to come.”
The GSK Award for Research Excellence is one of the most prestigious and longstanding independent awards open to the Australian medical research community. Established in 1980, the award has since provided more than $3 million to local researchers since its inception.
