Jian Zhou Medal recognises anaesthesia, blood pressure research
The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) has announced Professor Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg and Professor Francine Marques as the recipients of the 2025 Jian Zhou Medal. AAHMS launched the award in 2020 in honour of Professor Jian Zhou — whose co-invention of the cervical cancer vaccine has saved millions of lives — to recognise mid-career researchers who are making transformative contributions to the health and medical sciences.
Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg, who serves as Chair of Paediatric Anaesthesia at The University of Western Australia and a Consultant Anaesthetist at Perth Children’s Hospital, has been recognised for her groundbreaking work to improve the safety of anaesthesia in children, with one in seven experiencing breathing complications during surgery. Her team’s research has identified risk factors, refined anaesthetic techniques and informed international guidelines, reducing complications and transforming care for vulnerable patients.
Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg’s research has shown that children at high risk of breathing problems can be identified during their pre-anaesthesia assessment, enabling personalised management and safer outcomes. This work has been incorporated into international guidelines, changing anaesthetic practice worldwide.
“This prize is not just for me — it’s for my whole team, our clinical colleagues, and the thousands of children and families who have generously participated in our studies,” Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg said. Looking ahead, her team will continue to work with families and clinicians to improve safety and perioperative pain management, and reduce fear and anxiety for children facing surgery.
Marques, who is Head of the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University, has meanwhile been recognised for her pioneering work exploring how diet and the gut microbiome influence blood pressure. Her research has shown how microbial products, such as short-chain fatty acids generated from dietary fibre, can lower blood pressure — discoveries that have been validated in clinical trials and recognised in an American Heart Association Science Advisory.
Marques’ findings open the door to new non-pharmacological approaches to hypertension, including supplements, probiotics and personalised dietary advice. These advances could reshape cardiovascular care, which is particularly important given that high blood pressure remains the leading risk factor for death worldwide.
Speaking of her win, Marques said, “This recognition helps bring visibility to emerging areas such as the microbiome and encourages collaboration across disciplines — which is the only way to solve complex problems.” She is now focused on translating microbiome science into clinical tools, while building a supportive research environment for the next generation of scientists.
The 2025 Medals will be formally conferred at the Academy’s annual meeting in Canberra on 29 October.
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