Tall Poppy Award for ‘One of the Finest’

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute immunologist, Dr John Miles, has been awarded a 2013 Young Tall Poppy Science Award.

The hotly-contested awards recognise outstanding young scientific researchers and communicators.

Dr Miles, 34, is team head of the QIMR Berghofer Human Immunity Laboratory. His research is focussed on the role of T-cells, an important group of white blood cells that belong to the immune system.

QIMR Berghofer director, Professor Frank Gannon, said he was proud to nominate John Miles for the award.

“I would easily rate John as one of the very finest young scientists with whom I have worked,” Professor Gannon said.

“He was given a prized Team Head position here at QIMR Berghofer when he was just 31, and has demonstrated a steadfast passion in his goal of developing drugs and vaccines to treat and prevent human disease.

“His research achievements – despite his young age – are outstanding. He has now published more than 50 papers which are opening new possibilities for the treatment of diseases related to Epstein-Barr virus, a pathogen which infects billions of people.”

Professor Gannon said Dr Miles was also a superb ambassador for science and for QIMR Berghofer, offering lab tours for members of the community, and placement programs for secondary students considering science careers. He also took part in the 2012 Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer and associated speaking engagements.

Dr Miles received the Young Tall Poppy award from the Australian Institute of Policy and Science at a ceremony at the Queensland University of Technology last night.

“I’d like to thank the AIPS for this honour, and look forward to working with them to help promote the wonderful possibilities of science to young people and the community,” Dr Miles said.

Dr Miles completed his Bachelor of Science (Honours) and PhD at University of Queensland.