Leading international geneticists Mette Nygaard and Michael Toft Overgaard overturned a sensational murder conviction using genetic expertise. Hear about the fascinating process that led to Kathleen Folbigg’s conviction being overturned after serving more than 20 years, accused of murdering her four children.
About Mattick Lecture: Professor John Mattick AO
Professor John Mattick AO
Professor of RNA Biology, UNSW Sydney
Honorary Professor of Molecular Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Professor Mattick was largely responsible for the establishment of the IMB. He was the founding co-Director with Professor Peter Andrews from 2001-2002, and sole Director until the end of 2005, when he relinquished the post to concentrate on his research into noncoding RNA.
John obtained his BSc with First Class Honours from the University of Sydney, and his PhD from Monash University, then undertook postdoctoral work at Baylor College of Mediciner in Houston, before returning to CSIRO where he developed the first genetically engineered vaccine in Australia. He was recruited to the University of Queensland in 1988 as the Foundation Professor of Molecular Biology and Director of a new Centre for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, which ultimately became the IMB.
John is a Fellow of the Australian Academies of Science, Technology & Engineering, and Health & Medical Sciences, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. He has published over 300 papers, which have been cited over 90,000 times. His honours and awards include the Australian Government Centenary Medal, the Order of Australia, the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Medal, Foreign Membership of the European Molecular Biology Organisation, the inaugural Gutenberg Medal of the University of Strasbourg, the Lemberg Medal of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the University of Texas Bertner Award for Distinguished Contributions to Cancer Research, and the Human Genome Organisation Chen Medal for Distinguished Achievement in Human Genetics and Genomic Research.