Professor Andrew Steer has received a new accolade from the Australian Academy of Science for his work leading the battle against tropical diseases such as scabies.

The Academy’s Gustav Nossal Medal recognises Professor Steer’s research as among the highest standing in the field of global health and follows several other awards, including the 2019 Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship.

Professor Steer, who works at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, is a world authority on tropical infectious diseases. He has led treatment programs for scabies across the Solomon Islands and Fiji, as well as vaccine development for Strep A diseases, and new diagnostic technologies and control programs for rheumatic heart disease

Sir Gustav Nossal – one of Australia’s highest profile immunologists – was involved in some of Professor Steer’s scabies work as an advisor.

“I feel a particular personal connection, and so being awarded the medal is extra special and meaningful to me,” Professor Steer said.

Professor Steer was awarded the Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship in 2019, which provided $250,000 in annual funding over five years. The Fellowships are funded by the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation, which is proudly managed by Equity Trustees.