The RMH announces four new 2024 Research Hall of Fame inductees

Professor Macrae has been inducted into the RMH Research Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career and contributions to colorectal cancer research.

For more than 20 years Professor Macrae has served as Head of Colorectal Medicine and Genetics, and first began at the RMH as a registrar in 1978. His early work, studying bleeding patterns from colorectal cancer and adenomas was fundamental to the development of the Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and testing kit. The program has resulted in reduced mortality for participants through early detection.

In addition to this key research, Professor Macrae was one of the leaders of the Australian Polyp Prevention Project, the first trial to identify a low-fat diet and unprocessed wheat bran as protective against advanced adenomas. He is the Australian lead of the CAPP trial, investigating the long-term effects of aspirin on cancer incidence in patients with Lynch syndrome.

He chaired the primary prevention chapter in the NHMRC guidelines on colorectal cancer and established the InSiGHT Variant Interpretation Committee, an international committee that addresses variants of uncertain significance in the mismatch repair genes. This committee has recently been funded to oversee interpretation of DNA variants in several GI cancer genes on the US ClinVar database.

Prof Macrae is the key organ specialist (gastroenterology) in the multidisciplinary Familial Cancer Clinic at the RMH, focusing on families with inheritable forms of bowel cancer. Prof Macrae regularly supervise MD, and MGH and PhD students in their research projects and careers in genetics and inflammatory bowel disease. He was awarded the Order of Australia (AO) for his work in genetics and genomics in 2016 and the World Gastroenterology Organization’s highest award of Master (2016) and the Gastroenterological Society of Australia's Distinguished Research Prize in 2021.

Professor Winship has been inducted into the RMH Research Hall of Fame in recognition of her extraordinary career as a clinician scientist in clinical genetics, cancer genetics and genodermatology.

The RMH’s Director of Genomic Medicine, Professor Winship is dual-trained in clinical genetics and dermatology, and an expert in heritable skin disorders. She is also passionate about research having previously served as the Director of Research and with over 300 publications to her name – her contributions to cancer genomics have revolutionised clinical practice and improved patient care.

Professor Winship’s legacy includes securing over $50 million in research funding, establishing genomic risk registries, and founding the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, which has driven genomic medicine and research for more than 10 years, and establishing the Clinical Trials Centre at the RMH Parkville. She served on a number of high level committees within Australia, and internationally; she is currently a Director of the Boards of the Australian Genome Research Facility and Global Variome.

She is Chair of the Australian Health Ethics Committee and a member of the NHMRC Council.

Professor Davis has been inducted into the RMH Research Hall of Fame for his exceptional work as a neurologist and clinician-scientist, particularly recognition of his contributions in the field of stroke research.

As the founder of the Melbourne Brain Centre at the RMH, Professor Davis has been pivotal in advancing neuroscience research both nationally and internationally. His research is focused on acute therapy for both ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage, particularly the use of advanced imaging in selection of therapy.

He is the co-lead of the Australian Stroke Alliance and the Frontiers MRFF grant. His transformative trials, including EPITHET and EXTEND, have redefined acute stroke therapy and improved treatment accessibility.

Professor Davis’ contributions have significantly shaped international stroke treatment guidelines and his pioneering efforts with the Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit have introduced faster, pre-hospital stroke treatments, directly benefiting countless patients.

Professor Slavin has been inducted into the RMH Research Hall of Fame, in acknowledgement of her extraordinary contributions to infectious diseases research.

Professor Slavin leads the Immunocompromised Host Infection service at RMH and is Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Since joining the Victorian Infectious Diseases Service in 1994, her leadership has transformed practices in managing infections in immunocompromised patients.

With a focus on prevention and reduction of infection in cancer and transplant patients, Professor Slavin’s extensive research has led to the development of new management guidelines and diagnostic tests that are now implemented worldwide. She recently led a NHMRC-funded study of new approaches to diagnosing serious fungal infections in haematology and transplant patients.

Professor Slavin has received multiple awards for her work, including the Biomedical Research Victoria career recognition award in 2017, Antimicrobial Society of Australia Howard Florey Oration in 2019, Lifetime Fellow of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology in 2022 and ASID Lifetime Award in 2023.

She was the first Australian president of the International Immunocompromised Host Society and executive member of the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Immunocompromised Host Study Group.