A Hero of
Millions
You might recognize
Professor Ian Frazer as a previous Australian of the year. Perhaps you know him
as one of the two creators of the first pre-cancer vaccine. You may have heard
rumored reports about his next scientific venture - a vaccine for skin cancer.
But few Australians Know more than this about Professor Frazer.
Prof Frazer is
best known for his work on the Gardisil vaccine that was released in 2006. With his late colleague, Dr Jian Zhou, Prof
Frazer led the team that developed the world’s first human papilloma virus
(HPV) preventing vaccine. Gardasil has effectively
saved millions of women, by providing
almost 100 per cent protection from the infection of HPV. Prof Frazer says he
feels “humbled” to be a part of the vaccine’s creation process. “It’s also very
satisfying because we’ve seen it through to become a product. A product that is
useful to many.”
Generating awareness for Gardasil in third
world countries is a great challenge for the Prof and his team. However
“mentoring my junior colleagues” is also a main concern for the Prof.
Prof Frazer made the move to Brisbane to teach at the University of
Queensland in 1985. Since then his accomplishments have grown to include President of
Cancer Council (Australia), Advisor to the World Health Organisation and
Director of the Biotechnology Company, Coridon.
Reports regarding his quest
for a skin cancer vaccine, however, are not completely accurate. “Vaccines that
will help control some sorts of skin cancer are in trials at present” Prof Frazer
says. Although this is promising news, Prof Frazer says “10 years” is the
approximate time until a vaccine may be available.
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