Esler awarded Victoria Prize

Victoria's most prestigious science award has been awarded to clinical cardiologist and medical scientist, Professor Murry Esler, of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and Monash University, Melbourne.

Esler received the award for his research into the sympathetic nervous system which has implications on heart failure, stress and high blood pressure.

His first major breakthrough was his discovery that over-stimulation of the heart by the sympathetic nerves in cardiac failure, where the heart fails chronically as a pump, is a major cause of death.

The $50,000 prize will be presented at a ceremony tonight by the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser.

The Victoria Prize is awarded "for a scientific discovery or technological innovation, or a series of such achievements that significantly advances knowledge and has produced, or has the clear potential to produce, a commercial outcome or other benefit to the community."