Good news! UOW professor receives the highest honor in the Australian scientific community

The Eureka Prize, representing the highest honor in the Australian scientific community, has recently announced this year's final list of winners. Professor Martina Sanderson-Smith, a molecular microbiologist at the University of Wollongong (UOW), has been awarded this prestigious prize.

Professor Sanderson-Smith is the director of the Molecular Horizons Institute at UOW. This year, she was nominated for the Eureka Prize as part of a national team of scientists, which was shortlisted for its ongoing research into the clinical impacts of StrepA infections in children. Congratulations are also extended to Professor Sanderson-Smith and her team.

Professor Martina Sanderson-Smith

The significance of the award-winning research

The project focuses on tracking the spread of Group A Streptococcus and developing a vaccine. Group A Streptococcus is strictly a human pathogen with devastating effects on global health.StrepA is the most common cause of bacterial sore throat and tonsillitis in children, but it can also cause serious infections such as scarlet fever, sepsis, necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome.

Repeated StrepA infections can also trigger autoimmune diseases, including acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, the latter being a major cause of heart disease in children. Indigenous Australians are particularly severely affected by rheumatic heart disease induced by StrepA.

Acting Vice-Chancellor (Research and Sustainable Futures) at the University of Wollongong, Senior Professor Eileen McLaughlin, praised the scientific achievements of Professor Sanderson-Smith's research team. She stated: 'This project will play a global exemplary role in the process of eradicating and developing a vaccine for StrepA. We are delighted to see Professor Sanderson-Smith and her team's contributions to science and microbiology recognized on Australia's most important stage.'

More Eureka Prize winners from UOW

The Eureka Prize is awarded annually by the Australian Museum.The award aims to recognize scientists who have made outstanding contributions to scientific research, innovation, and communication in Australia.Since its inception, several scientists from UOW have won the award, they are:

Year	Winner	Category
2022	Professor Justin Yerbury	Scientific Research
2021	UOW asNSW Bushfire Hub (New South Wales Bushfire Center)member, jointly awarded this prize	Environmental Research
2021	Dr Dana M Bergstrom	Innovation and Science Leadership
2019	UOW asBlue Carbon Horizon Teammember jointly awarded this prize	Environmental Research
2016	Professor Gordon Wallace	Innovation and Science Leadership
2011	Professor Abdesselam Bouzerdoum	Outstanding Research Supporting Defense or National Security