January 26, 2010 Print
Director of the Westmead Millennium Institute, Professor Anthony Cunningham, has been awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List.
Professor Cunningham received the prestigious award for his “service to medicine, particularly in the field of viral research and through the development and leadership of medical and biomedical research”.
Director of the Westmead Millennium Institute since its formation in 1996, Professor Cunningham has lead a team of scientists that has grown from 60 researchers to more than 500 medical researchers. He is also Director of the Centre for Virus Research and Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology director.
Professor Cunningham is recognised as an international leader in four related fields of virologic research. His longstanding studies on the immunopathogenesis of Herpes simplex virus in humans, for which he is best known, led to the development of the first successful vaccine for this virus.
“I am delighted to have received this award. I feel privileged to be now ranked among many Australians whom I greatly admire," he said.
“This is a tribute not only to myself but also to the work of the Westmead Millennium Institute researchers and all my colleagues who helped establish the Institute and assisted it to thrive.”
In the Australian honours system appointments to the Order of Australia confer recognition for outstanding achievement and service. The Officer of the Order of Australia is awarded for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or humanity at large.