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Researchers at the Lions Eye Institute have won a prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prize for developing a highly effective strategy to improve the management of one of the most common viral infections caused by cytomegalovirus, following transplantation.

The Lions Eye Institute, which is affiliated to The University of Western Australia, together with Monash University and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, won the UNSW Eureka Prize for Scientific Research for their research into cytomegalovirus infection, a frequent and life-threatening complication that significantly limits positive outcomes for bone marrow transplant patients.

Lead researcher Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti and her team including Dr Chris Andoniou and Peter Fleming developed a new, non-toxic and highly effective strategy to reduce the impact of this infection by preventing viral reactivation, which could lead to improved outcomes for transplant patients.

The annual Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are Australia’s leading science awards, recognising excellence in the fields of research and innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science.

Winners of the 2019 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes were announced at a gala award dinner at Sydney Town Hall last night.

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Simone Hewett (UWA Media & PR Adviser)                                                               08 6488 7975