Two outstanding The Kids Research Institute Australia research leaders have been named finalists in the 2018 Western Australian of the Year Awards.
The Kids Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis is a finalist in the Professions Award and Head of Aboriginal Research Mr Glenn Pearson is a finalist for the Aboriginal Award.
Since joining The Kids as Executive Director in 2012, Professor Carapetis has driven transformational organisational change, pioneering a new model for medical research that is community and outcomes focussed, and cementing the Institute’s position as one of the leading research institutes in Australia.
An international leader in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) research, Professor Carapetis and his team are developing a new formulation of long-acting penicillin for treatment of RHD and driving development of a Strep A vaccine to prevent RHD. Professor Carapetis is also the prime driver behind a new coalition to eliminate RHD in Australia.
Professor Carapetis is also committed to developing young researchers and future research leaders, is a strong advocate for more women and Aboriginal people in research and science, and is passionate about raising the profile of research in the broader community.
Mr Pearson, who has been at The Kids for 14 years, has played an instrumental role in transforming the Institute’s approach to Aboriginal research and community involvement to make Aboriginal health everyone’s business.
He has led the development and implementation of the Institute’s Commitment to Aboriginal Children and Families (2013-2017) Statement which includes the establishment of a whole of Institute standards of research practice in working in Aboriginal communities as well as leading the development and implementation of Aboriginal Employment and Career Development Strategy.
He has also championed the establishment of The Kids Kimberley, a research hub based in Broome that enables Aboriginal people to be critical partners in the mission to improve the health of their own communities in meaningful, sustainable ways.
The winners of each category will be announced on Friday 1 June, 2018.
Read more about the Awards and finalists here.
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