James Paton elected to Academy of Science

New Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science Professor James Paton FAA
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Thursday, 28 March 2013

The University of Adelaide's Professor James Paton has been elected as a Fellow to the Australian Academy of Science.

Professor Paton, who is is the Director of the Research Centre for Infectious Diseases in the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, has made major scientific contributions to the field of pathogenesis and prevention of bacterial infectious diseases.

His research focuses on the human pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae and Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli.

He was among 20 leading research scientists elected to the Academy this year. "I applaud all of our new Fellows for their internationally significant achievements in a broad range of scientific disciplines," said Academy President, Professor Suzanne Cory.

Professor Paton completed a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Adelaide in 1979, and spent 20 years at the Women's and Children's Hospital, where he became Head of the Molecular Microbiology Unit.

He returned to the University in 2000 to take up a Chair in Microbiology. In 2007 he was awarded a prestigious NHMRC Australia Fellowship and was featured in NHMRC's 10 of the Best - Great minds in Australian research. He has published over 290 scientific papers in international journals, including landmark papers in Nature and Nature Medicine.

Professor Bob Hill, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, said: "Professor James Paton is one of the leading researchers in the University of Adelaide. The NHMRC Australia Fellowship he has just completed is a clear indication of the esteem in which he is held."

Professor Paton said: "I feel greatly honoured to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy, particularly since it recognises the quality and significance of the research carried out by our team in the Research Centre for Infectious Diseases. I feel privileged to lead such an enthusiastic and talented group of researchers, who are striving to develop new antibacterial drugs and vaccines."

Also honoured by the Australian Academy of Science was Professor Sharad Kumar, SA Pathology, who is an Affiliate Professor in the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science.

Professor Kumar's discoveries have contributed to the understanding of many human diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.

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