Leading STI researcher honoured with 2023 Frank Fenner Award
Associate Professor Eric Chow has been awarded the 2023 Frank Fenner Award for Advanced Research in Infectious Diseases.
Named after Professor Frank Fenner, an Australian pioneer of viral research, the prestigious award is the peak research award from the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID). It is awarded annually based on a portfolio of original research in infectious diseases.
Associate Professor Eric Chow is an epidemiologist and biostatistician with expertise in sexually transmitted infections (STI) at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health and Associate Professor at the Central Clinical School, Monash University.
Accepting the Award at the ASID Annual Scientific Meeting in Adelaide, Associate Professor Chow said it was a tremendous honour to be receiving the award.
“I’m extremely honoured and humbled to have received the 2023 Frank Fenner Award for Advanced Research in Infectious Diseases. This award recognises the importance of our work on preventing and controlling sexually transmitted infections in Australia. Research is like a puzzle. Our work is building up by making mistakes, trying new things and thinking outside the box, so that we can see the full picture to find solutions," Associate Professor Chow said.
ASID President Professor Katie Flanagan said that Associate Professor Chow was a worthy recipient.
“This award recognises and highlights the importance of Associate Professor Chow’s STI research as well as the quality and innovation of his work.”
Associate Professor Chow’s research program aims to improve the treatment, prevention and control of STIs, with a particular focus on gonorrhoea and HPV. Untreated gonorrhoea can cause serious health problems (e.g., infertility and ectopic pregnancy). Rises of gonorrhoea lead to large increases in antibiotic use, and this increases the risk of it becoming resistant to first-line antibiotic treatment.
“Associate Professor Chow’s research was the first in the world to develop a new paradigm for gonorrhoea transmission and changed the current thinking on STI control. This will potentially change the safer sex message in future sexual health education and campaigns on how to prevent gonorrhoea. The identification of the importance of the throat in gonorrhoea transmission also opens opportunities for exploring novel prevention and intervention strategies targeting the throat,” said Professor Flanagan
Associate Professor Chow thanked ASID for the award and recognising the importance of his work.
“Research is a team effort, and I am very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to work with outstanding researchers and clinicians over the years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all clinicians at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and all my collaborators, peers and community for their support of my research,” he said.
“His work has the potential to reduce the burden of sexually transmitted infections and also to improve the lives of affected individuals,” Professor Flanagan said.
ASID President Professor Katie Flanagan presents Associate Professor Chow with his award.