Leading role for former Veterinary Science PhD student
Press release
28 March 2008
Professor Brendan Crabb, a former PhD Student in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, has been appointed as the Director of one of Australia’s leading medical research and public health institutes – the Burnet Institute.
Professor Crabb was appointed to the prestigious position at the beginning of March 2008, after successfully heading up the laboratory team at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research based in Melbourne.
The newly appointed Director commenced his Doctor of Philosophy in 1989. Entitled ‘Proteins of equine herpes viruses 4 and 1 and asinine herpes virus 3’, his research centred around the field of virology.
The findings from his research resulted in a diagnostic test that could distinguish horses previously infected (and hence carriers) with the potentially lethal Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) from those infected with the more common, yet benign Equine Herpes Virus-4 (EHV-4). He was awarded his PhD in 1992.
Professor Crabb is an outstanding and internationally recognised medical researcher with significant leadership in infectious diseases especially the area of malaria and viruses.
He is also a National Health and Medical Research Council Senior Principal Research Fellow and an International Research Scholar of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (USA). He has impressive credentials in medical research and is widely respected by the Australian and international scientific communities.
“I’m very excited to be moving to such a dynamic and internationally recognised organisation, and am committed to growing the Burnet Institute’s reputation as a globally competitive, infectious diseases centre of excellence.” commented Professor Crabb.
For further information please contact Andrea Jones, Marketing Manager, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Tel: 8344 7844 or email: ajone@unimelb.edu.au