Liverpool Hospital’s Director of Medicine Professor Jeremy Wilson’s Pancreatic Research Group has an international reputation for its research into the changes of alcoholic pancreatitis.
Started in 1987, the group was the first to develop a breakthrough method to isolate and culture pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), fundamentally changing pancreatic fibrogenesis concepts and knowledge in health and disease globally.
Professor Wilson, who is also the University of NSW clinical associate dean of the South Western Sydney Clinical School, has just been honoured for his exceptional contribution to pancreatic research.
He has won the Outstanding Commitment to Pancreatology Award from the Australasian Pancreatic Club (APC).
His Pancreatic Research Group has consistently received more than $17 million in competitive funding from the likes of the National Health and Medical Research Council / Department of Veterans Affairs, the Cancer Council NSW and the Australian Research Council.
Professor Wilson has also been a member of the Council of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) since 2001 and is currently serving his second four-year term as Secretary-General of the association.
During his tenure, he has achieved a significant increase in membership and the establishment of research initiatives to support large-scale multinational studies in clinical pancreatology.
South Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Amanda Larkin said Professor Wilson was internationally recognised as a leader in the field of alcohol-related pancreatic injury.
“This award is very worthy recognition of the dedication to pancreatic health Professor Wilson has shown and the significant contribution he has made to his field,” she said.
“Pancreatic cancer is the ninth most common cancer in men and 10th most common cancer in women, so we are proud to have Professor Wilson on board with his ongoing commitment to research.”
Ingham Institute Research Director Professor Michael Barton further commended Professor Wilson’s achievement.
“This is a very well-deserved award and reflective of Professor Wilson’s tremendous research achievements in the field of pancreatology,” he said.
“On behalf of the Ingham Institute, it is pleasing to see Professor Wilson receive such significant recognition for tireless work to improve the treatment and care of pancreatic patients.”
Facts about pancreatic cancer:
– Pancreatic cancer has a low survival rate as it is most often diagnosed at an advanced stage;
– Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death over all, and has been projected to become the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the next decade;
– The risk of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by age 85 is one in 57 for Australian men and one in 73 for Australian women.
