Biotech leader wins CSIRO Eureka Prize

Professor John Mattick has won the 2006 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science.

The prize recognises Mattick's scientific leadership, organisational vision and commitment in the establishment and development of the Australian Genome Research Facility and the Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

Mattick joined the University of Queensland in 1988 to build up molecular biology and biotechnology at the university.

Under his leadership the new centre for molecular biology and biotechnology grew to employ more than 150 of Australia's scientists and delivered significant international discoveries, such as the role of so-called "junk DNA" and non-coding RNA.

He helped engineer Queensland's Smart State campaign and was instrumental in the creation of a series of research institutes: the Centre for Molecular Biology and Cellular Biology and the Australian Genome Research Facility. Most recently he has brought these groups together to form the Queensland Bioscience Precinct, which employs more than 700 scientists.

Mattick will continue his research challenging the dogma of junk DNA " the 98.5% of our DNA that does not code for genes and which until recently was thought not to do anything.

He believes that it actually constitutes a hidden regulatory system, which would explain why humans are much more complex than, say, worms, which have almost as many genes as us.

In addition to the prestigious CSIRO Eureka Prize, Mattick also receives $10,000.

The Australian Museum Eureka Prize winners were announced at the Eureka Prize awards dinner in Sydney, 22 August. The Eureka Prizes reward outstanding achievements in Australian science. The prizes are awarded in four categories: Research, Leadership and Innovation, Education and Science Communication.