PRESS RELEASE
Office of the Independent Councillor, City of Ryde
Email: Sarkis_Yedelian@yahoo.com.au, or Alt. Email: SYedelian@Ryde.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 9879 4159 , Mobile: 0412 048 330
PO Box 631, Galesville, NSW 2111, Australia

Science prize goes to UNSW again
16 November 2004

The Australasian Science prize has been awarded to an academic from
UNSW, for the second year in a row.

The 2004 prize has been awarded to Professor Levon Khachigian, an
NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow in the Centre for Vascular
Research (CVR) in the Faculty of Medicine.

Professor Khachigian and his 15-strong team in the Transcription and
Gene Targeting Laboratory are hoping to develop novel treatments for
arterial diseases, including several aggressive cancers, based on
innovative ways for identifying genes that damage blood vessels.

“I think that one of our strengths is our ability to translate
fundamental observations into potential therapeutic strategies,” said
Professor Khachigian. “We like to think of inventive ways to interfere
with key molecules and the cellular events that would otherwise lead
to the manifestation of disease.”

Their most recent discovery is of molecular tools that block the
growth of aggressive melanoma in mice.

In accepting the prize, Professor Khachigian called for increased
funding for health and medical research by Government in its new term
– an area, which he claims, received scant attention in the recent
federal election campaign. “Otherwise we risk losing the opportunity
of capturing and building upon the people, project and infrastructure
investments already made,” he said. “Our competitive position as an
international player in research is squarely dependent on adequate
government funding.”

“Fundamental understanding is critical to any area of research, which
is why we need to support curiosity-driven research,” said Professor
Khachigian.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Wainwright, and Professor Michelle
Haber, Director of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia applauded
Professor Khachigian’s impressive body of research. He was presented
the Award by the editor of Australasian Science Guy Nolch.

Last year, another UNSW academic, Emeritus Scientia Professor Mark
Rowe, was presented with the prize for his work as a sensory
neuroscientist.

Next month Professor Khachigian will be awarded his Doctor of Science
(Research), his third degree over 23 years from UNSW.

Our Congratulation to Professor Levon Khachigian and his family,
Prof. Khachigian is born in Lebanon of Armenian Parents he resides in
Ryde, he is married and has two children.

Sarkis Yedelian, Councillor, City of Ryde.

For further information about Australasian Science go to the website.