Infectious disease researchers leading the global fight in eliminating tuberculosis and a groundbreaking innovator in medicinal chemistry have been elected fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) for 2025.

In a ceremony in Canberra, Professor Greg Fox, Professor Ben Marais and Professor Michael Kassiou were recognised for life-long dedication and pursuit of excellence in health and medical research, innovation and leadership.

The AAHMS recognises leaders whose work has transformed and deepened understanding in their research fields.

Election to the Academy is one of the highest honours in Australian health and medical sciences. Fellows are elected by their peers for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of knowledge, the translation of research into improved health outcomes, and their commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers and clinicians.

Professor Julie Cairney, interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), said: “Recognition by the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences is a true honour, reflecting Greg, Michael and Ben’s outstanding achievements in advancing the field of medical sciences and improving health outcomes for patients around the world.”

“The University of Sydney is proud to have these three global leaders in health and medicine leading the way in public health and the invention of new medicines.”

Professor Ben Marais, Director of the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID), is an internationally renowned leader for his work on childhood and multidrug resistant tuberculosis (TB).

He is a tireless advocate of reducing how children are affected by the global TB epidemic and controlling its spread, recognising that children are disproportionately impacted by the disease.

Professor Marais also leads the WHO Collaborating Centre for TB and the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in TB – Both Sides of the Border. 

Professor Greg Fox is an internationally recognised leader in tuberculosis clinical trials and evidence-based policymaking.

Trials led by Professor Fox in Vietnam, which have recruited over 150,000 participants, have influenced multiple WHO global TB guidelines and shifted thinking on how TB elimination can be achieved.

His academic leadership led to the establishment of the University of Sydney’s Vietnam Institute, a leading pan-University research institute.

His achievements have been recognised through the NHMRC David Cooper Award for Clinical Trials (2023) and the Ho Chi Minh Prize for Scientific Distinction, Vietnam’s highest scientific honour (2022).

Professor Michael Kassiou’s work in medicinal chemistry and neuropharmacology has achieved international recognition, exemplified by his receipt of the 2023 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Leadership in Innovation and Science.

His research is pioneering the first effective pharmacological treatments for psychiatric and neurological disorders, including substance use disorders.

Through advances in drug discovery, neuroinflammation imaging, and therapeutics, he has driven innovation across Australia’s health research ecosystem.

As Academic Director of the Centre for Drug Discovery Innovation at the University of Sydney, he mentors emerging scientists and has co-founded three commercial enterprises that have collectively attracted more than $300 million in investment.

Academy President Professor Louise Baur AM PresAHMS said the new Fellows represent the very best of the health and medical sciences in Australia.

“Our new Fellows are improving lives — from tackling global health challenges and pioneering new treatments, to shaping policy and advancing the frontiers of biomedical discovery,” Professor Baur said.

“Their work exemplifies the Academy’s mission to advance health and medical research, promote evidence-informed policy, and foster trust in science.”

View all 2025 fellows at:https://aahms.org/news/29-of-australias-leading-health-and-medical-researchers-elected-as-aahms-fellows/