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Doug Hilton

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Douglas Hilton
Born (1964-06-13) 13 June 1964 (age 60)
England
NationalityAustralia
Scientific career
FieldsMolecular biology and hematopoiesis
InstitutionsWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Douglas “Doug” James Hilton PhD FAA (born June 13, 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 focussed on cytokines, signal transduction pathways and the regulation of blood cell formation (hematopoiesis).

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”.[1]

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).[2]

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:

  • continuing its cornerstone research into cancer, blood cells, immunology, autoimmunity and infectious diseases, and enhancing this research with technological and investigative innovations including structural biology, chemistry, high-throughput screening, and mathematics and computational science.
  • expanding the translational research conducted by the Institute and considering, in collaboration with indigenous communities and other organisations, ways in which the research strengths of the Institute can be constructively utilised to improve indigenous health in Australia.
  • enhancing the institute’s links with the University of Melbourne, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and other leading centres of excellence in medical research and education, and continuing to pursue collaborations with the private sector.

Awards and Honours

  • 1989- Victorian Young Achiever of the Year
  • 1993- Queen Elizabeth II Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • 1998- Gottschalk Medal, Australian Academy of Science[10]
  • 1999- Australian Institute of Political Science, Victorian "Tall Poppy" Award[11]
  • 2000- Amgen Medical Researcher Award, Australian Society for Medical Research
  • 2000- Inaugural Commonwealth Health Minister's Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research
  • 2003- The GlaxoSmithKline Australia Award for Research Excellence
  • 2004- Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science[12]
  • 2006- COSMOS Bright Spark Award "Australia's Top 10 Scientific Minds Under 45"[13]
  • 2008- Australia National Health and Medical Research Council “Ten great minds in health and medical research”[14]
  • 2009- The Age Melbourne Magazine, “Top 100 People”
  • 2010- Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

Personal Life

Hilton is married and has two sons.

References

  1. ^ A conversation with Professor Doug Hilton [1] NHMRC podcast, 20 March 2008.
  2. ^ The Director [2] Walter and Eliza Hall Institute website.
  3. ^ The Director [3] Walter and Eliza Hall Institute website.
  4. ^ Scientific Advisory Board [4] MuriGen Therapeutics.
  5. ^ ACRF Medical Research Advisory Committee. [5]
  6. ^ The Victorian Life Sciences Computational Initiative Steering Committee. [6]
  7. ^ Bio21 Cluster Board. [7]
  8. ^ National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. [8]
  9. ^ The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute announces the next Director [9] WEHI press release, 24 February 2009.
  10. ^ Young Australian Researchers Get Recognition At The Highest Level [10] 24 March 1998.
  11. ^ Young Tall Poppy Science Award winners - Victoria 1999 [11] Australian Institute of Policy and Science website.
  12. ^ Science Academy Elects New Members [12] Australian Academy of Science Media Release, 26 March 2004.
  13. ^ Cosmos Bright Sparks: Australia's top 10 young minds announced [13] COSMOS Magazine Media Release, 26 July 2006.
  14. ^ Great minds in health and medical research [14] National Health and Medical Research Council.

Doug Hilton Faculty page, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

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