Groundbreaking medical research scores two Fulbright Awards

Apr 08, 2005

Only 19 Australians have just been announced as recipients of prestigious Fulbright scholarships this year -- and two of them are from the University of Wollongong.

Professor Mark Walker from the Faculty of Science and PhD student Andrew Wroe from the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP) have both been recognised for their groundbreaking medical research and will travel to the United States to make significant advancements in their fields.

The distinguished Fulbright program is the largest educational scholarship of its kind and is aimed at promoting mutual understanding through educational exchange. It currently operates between the United States and 150 other countries.

Professor Walker, who has received a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, is one of Australia's leading researchers in recombinant DNA technology to improve the effectiveness of vaccines for infectious diseases.

He is researching the flesh eating bacterium known as Streptococcus pyogenes which is a serious disease-causing microbe affecting the northern Australian Aboriginal population. His research at the University of Tennessee and the University of California, San Diego, will specifically examine the interactions of Group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes GAS) with human tissue.

Relatively little is known about the triggers of the flesh-eating disease necrotising fasciitis, which is an infection that attacks the deep layers of tissue and is caused when an invasive strain of GAS infects an opening in the skin. For unknown reasons, the strain becomes very aggressive and releases molecules that quickly and irreparably destroy flesh and muscle.

Doctors often must remove skin, large groups of muscle, or entire limbs to save a sufferer's life. Using a molecular approach, Professor Walker will seek to discover and characterise streptococcal properties in order to identify potential vaccine antigens to combat the disease, which will have a positive impact upon public health.

Mr Wroe is conducting innovative research into the interaction of proton radiation on the cellular and DNA level. Further understanding of exactly how radiation interacts at this level will allow for more accurate cancer treatments utilising protons.

Mr Wroe's cutting-edge research will also aid advances in manned space exploration, including future missions to Mars. Humans exploring space are exposed to Solar Particle Radiation and Galactic Cosmic Radiation composed of high-energy protons that cause permanent damage to human DNA. Mr Wroe's research will allow for radiation shielding to be optimised affording the best possible protection to the crew and spacecraft.

Mr Wroe's research is being conducted in collaboration with the Loma Linda University Medical Centre (LLUMC) proton facility in the United States. His Fulbright Award will support 12 months of research with LLUMC and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

"My research measures the radiation interaction with DNA at a measurement of two nanometres or two millionths of a millimetre," he said.

"I am then transferring the data I collect into a computer program I am developing to measure the effects which in turn will help us to improve radiation therapies, such as ground breaking proton therapy, as well as how humans can stay in space for extended periods."

For further information contact: Professor Mark Walker on 4221 3439 / Andrew Wroe (currently overseas) via e-mail: ajw16@uow.edu.au

-RP

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128