Doug Hilton

Douglas Hilton
Born (1964-06-13) 13 June 1964
England
Nationality Australia
Fields Molecular biology and hematopoiesis
Institutions Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Douglas “Doug” James Hilton PhD FAA FAHMS (born 13 June 1964 in England) is an Australian molecular biologist. He is the Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia and Head of the Department of Medical Biology at the University of Melbourne. His research has focused on cytokines, signal transduction pathways and the regulation of blood cell formation (hematopoiesis). Hilton is the current President of the Association of the Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), taking over from Professor Brendan Crabb in 2014.[1]

Early life

Hilton migrated to Australia with his family in 1970 and grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Warrandyte. He was educated at Warrandyte Primary School and East Doncaster High School, where he recalls being inspired by “a wonderful biology teacher”.[2]

Scientific career

Education

Hilton received a Bachelor of Science from Monash University. He spent summer holidays as an undergraduate researcher in the laboratory of Ian Young at the John Curtin School of Medical Research. His Honours and PhD research projects were conducted with Professors Don Metcalf and Nicos Nicola at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, and resulted in the cloning of the cytokine Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF).[3]

Cytokine Signalling and Blood Cell Formation

Hilton spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow studying the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor with Professor Harvey Lodish at the Whitehead Institute, MIT, USA.[3] In 1993 Hilton returned to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute where he continued his research into cytokine signalling, with discoveries including the interleukin-11 receptor, the interleukin-13 receptor, and the Suppressors of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) proteins. In recent years, together with Professor Warren Alexander and Dr Benjamin Kile, Hilton has established a new program using large-scale mouse genetics and genomics to identify regulators of blood cell formation, with a view to determining targets for the development of new medicines. He has been the head of the Institute’s Division of Molecular Medicine since it began in 2006, and is a professor in the University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science.

Other positions

From 1997 to 2001, Hilton served as Director of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cellular Growth Factors, during which he initiated the Australian Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). He is also a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of the biotechnology company MuriGen Therapeutics.[4] He currently serves on the Board of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation Medical Research Advisory Committee,[5] the Victorian Cancer Agency Plan Implementation Committee, the Victorian Life Sciences Computational Initiative Steering Committee,[6] the Board of the Bio21 Cluster,[7] and the Board of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand.[8]

Directorship of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

On 1 July 2009, Hilton became the sixth Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, a position that has previously been held by Professor Suzanne Cory, Sir Gustav Nossal, Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, Dr Charles Kellaway and Dr Sydney Patterson.[9]

Hilton believes that the Institute’s success requires:

Awards and honours


Personal life

Hilton is married and has two sons.

References

  1. ↑ http://aamri.org.au/about-us/president/
  2. ↑ A conversation with Professor Doug Hilton NHMRC podcast, 20 March 2008.
  3. 1 2 The Director Walter and Eliza Hall Institute website.
  4. ↑ Scientific Advisory Board MuriGen Therapeutics.
  5. ↑ "ACRF Medical Research Advisory Committee". Acrf.com.au. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  6. ↑ "The Victorian Life Sciences Computational Initiative Steering Committee". Vlsci.unimelb.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  7. ↑ "Bio21 Cluster Board". Bio21.com.au. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  8. ↑ National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Archived 16 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute announces the next Director WEHI press release, 24 February 2009.
  10. ↑ Young Australian Researchers Get Recognition At The Highest Level 24 March 1998.
  11. ↑ Young Tall Poppy Science Award winners - Victoria 1999 Australian Institute of Policy and Science website.
  12. ↑ Science Academy Elects New Members Australian Academy of Science Media Release, 26 March 2004.
  13. ↑ Cosmos Bright Sparks: Australia's top 10 young minds announced COSMOS Magazine Media Release, 26 July 2006.
  14. ↑ Great minds in health and medical research National Health and Medical Research Council.
  15. ↑ "2011 Milstein Award Announcement". Milstein-award.org. 2009-07-01. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  16. ↑ http://www.researchaustralia.org/news-media/research-australia-annual-awards/annual-awards-2011
  17. ↑ http://www.asbmb.org.au/awards/hilton.html
  18. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/world/science/eureka-prize-winners-20120828-24ykk.html
  19. ↑ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/warrandyte-research-scientist-professor-douglas-hilton-wins-prestigious-award-for-his-work/story-fngnvlxu-1226748316067
  20. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pEHMwXIjgs
  21. ↑ http://aamri.org.au/news-events/aamri-news/aamri-president-appointed-fellow-of-new-australian-academy-of-health-and-medical-sciences/

External links

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