register

Medical and Science

UNSW scientist first woman honoured with top chemistry prize

Health Industry Hub | September 25, 2019 |

One of the world’s leading experts in polymer chemistry, UNSW Sydney Scientia Professor Martina Stenzel, is the first woman in almost 90 years to receive the Royal Society of NSW’s Liversidge Medal.

The top science prize, which has been running since 1931, recognises Australian scientists who have made an outstanding contribution to chemistry research.

Professor Stenzel, from UNSW Science’s School of Chemistry, is widely regarded as a global pioneer in the application of novel polymer architectures. By developing chemical techniques for new polymer architectures, Professor Stenzel is creating ‘smart’ nanoparticles for drug delivery that are revolutionising the way disease is targeted and treated.

Her work focuses on the fundamental processes that underpin nanoparticle design to make them suitable for the delivery of proteins, DNA or metal-based drugs to treat cancer – specifically ovarian and pancreatic cancer.

“The Liversidge Medal is such an established prize and it is truly wonderful to be recognised by this enduring and respected scientific academy,” Professor Stenzel said. “I hope it will encourage more women to enter the fields of chemistry and physics, two natural sciences where female scientists have traditionally been very few and far between.”

As Co-Director at UNSW’s Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, Professor Stenzel leads a team of 20 researchers working to combine synthetic polymers with nature’s building blocks such as carbohydrates, peptides and proteins. The team of researches work at the intersection of polymer science, nanoparticle design and medicine.

The creation and adaptation of nanoparticles for various biomedical applications is the focus of Professor Stenzel’s current research. By designing nanoparticles of different shapes, sizes and surface functionalities the nanoparticles can then be “loaded” with various drugs, mimicking a water-filled sponge.

“The beautiful thing about nanoparticles is that they can be modified in endless ways,” Professor Stenzel said. “We are trying to better understand the physical properties of these drug-loaded nanoparticles as it is directly linked to the biological activity. The aim is to create nanoparticles with the right properties that can invade cancer cells but not attack healthy cells.

“It is incredibly exciting to be able to work more closely with medical researchers, including the ovarian cancer researcher UNSW’s Associate Professor Caroline Ford and pancreatic researchers Associate Professor Joshua McCarroll and Associate Professor Phoebe Phillips to test the ability of patented protein-based nanoparticles to help treat some of the most challenging cancers.”

Professor Stenzel said that while nanoparticles were most commonly used in cancer treatment, they could potentially be so used for treatment of many other diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and infectious diseases.

Professor Stenzel is a recipient of the LeFevre Medal from the Australian Academy of Science, the H.G. Smith Medal of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute RACI and in 2018 was elected to the Australian Academy of Science.

The Liversidge Lecture, awarded every two years, is given on the recommendation of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI). UNSW Scientia Professor Justin Gooding was the last recipient of the award in 2016.


News & Trends - MedTech & Diagnostics

Government's claim of progress in genomics falls flat while it fails to uphold the fundamental rights of Aussies

Government’s claim of progress in genomics falls flat while it fails to uphold the fundamental rights of Aussies

Health Industry Hub | February 7, 2025 |

The government has unveiled Cancer Australia’s National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control, a strategic plan designed to guide healthcare […]

More


News & Trends - Pharmaceuticals

Healthcare sector’s political donations: What to expect ahead of the federal election

Healthcare sector’s political donations: What to expect ahead of the federal election

Health Industry Hub | February 7, 2025 |

Ahead of the upcoming federal election, attention turns to the financial contributions to major political parties. The Australian Electoral Commission’s […]

More


News & Trends - Pharmaceuticals

'Underinvestment in gynae cancer has left critical gaps,' says ANZGOG Chair

‘Underinvestment in gynae cancer has left critical gaps,’ says ANZGOG Chair

Health Industry Hub | February 7, 2025 |

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest women’s cancer, with the latest statistics revealing a five-year survival rate of just 49%. Alarmingly, […]

More


News & Trends - MedTech & Diagnostics

Labor's one-off funding a band aid for public hospitals while private sector left in limbo

Labor’s one-off funding a band aid for public hospitals while private sector left in limbo

Health Industry Hub | February 6, 2025 |

The Federal Government has committed a one-off funding boost of $1.7 billion to public hospitals under a one-year extension to […]

More


This content is copyright protected. Please subscribe to gain access.