Eureka for genetics and climate research

Two of Australia's top researchers received awards last night at the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Award Dinner at the Australian Technology Park, Sydney.

Prof Levon Khachigian, of the School of Medical Sciences at the University of NSW, and Dr John Church, of CSIRO and chair of the Geneva-based Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Programme, both received accolades for their research.

Khachigian won the award for medical research for his development of DNAzymes. These small molecule drugs may have far-reaching therapeutic effects on the treatment of cardiovascular disease and other conditions involving inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and diabetes-induced blindness.

"I like to think of our small molecule drugs as a "toolbox of nanoassassins', which we can use to target and shoot down bad gene products," said Khachigian.

"These exceptionally innovative molecular agents prevent damage after a cardiovascular event by targeting and removing problematic genes. And, because these same problematic genes are commanders in many other diseases, there is real potential to apply these assassins to other diseases like cancer."

Existing anti-inflammatory treatments for cardiovascular patients induce harmful side-effects such as high blood pressure, obesity and immunosuppression. Khachigian's DNAzymes — or "magic bullets' as he calls them — offer the promise of a long-awaited alternative and will be clinically trialled in humans from 2009.

"This truly revolutionary work will soon be applied in clinical trials on humans," said Australian Museum director, Frank Howarth.

"Professor Khachigian, winner also of a Eureka prize for scientific research in 2003, is one of a new generation of researchers whose discoveries at the bench are contributing to diagnosis, treatment and prevention in human disease."

Dr John Church, meanwhile, received the scientific research award for his analysis of century-old data collected the old-fashioned way — from tidal gauges around the world — compared with recent satellite data. His research produced a 130-year record of worldwide average sea levels, to provide irrefutable evidence of acceleration in the rate of twentieth century sea-level rises.

"Dr Church's data has been used to show that current models are underestimating the rate of sea-level rise," said Howarth.

"Observations have now also been made on regional variations in sea level, including the unambiguous conclusion that sea level in this region is rising."

The research is being used by the UN and the Australian government " and is contributing to Church's own study on ocean heat storage.