Kolling Institute News

Global recognition for our researchers In a sign of the international impact of our research at the Kolling Institute, a prestigious award has been presented to Professor Chris Little during the World Congress on Osteoarthritis in Denver, Colorado. More than 700 researchers and clinicians attended the event where of interacting closely with clinicians, surgeons and the osteoarthritis patients they manage.

“Importantly, this influences the type of basic science research we do, and ensures that we are addressing the problems our clinicians and patients face in trying to manage osteoarthritis. “The OARSI award is recognition by the osteoarthritis research community that the work we are doing is relevant and important, and I’m thrilled that it’s highlighting our exciting progress and my extraordinary team.” We would also like to congratulate Professor Carol Pollock who has received a highly prestigious award for her commitment to research. The International Society of Nephrology has announced Professor Pollock is the 2023 recipient of the Alfred Newton Richards award for outstanding research in the field of nephrology. Carol has welcomed the news. “I am extremely honoured to be recognised by the ISN for the research my team and I have done over many years,” she said. “Prior recipients of the Alfred Newton Richards Award are exceptional and I am proud to be included in this relatively small group of nephrology researchers internationally.” As a renal medicine specialist and internationally respected academic, Professor Pollock has had a remarkable career as a clinician, researcher, lecturer, mentor and advocate. Carol has published over 440 papers in clinical medicine and basic science. She has over 32,000 citations and is an inaugural Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Carol has had an extensive range of health leadership roles, and is currently the Chair of Kidney Health Australia, Chair of the NSW Bureau of Health Information and Deputy Chair of the Australian Organ, Tissue and Transplant Authority. She was chair of the NSLHD Board from 2010-2016.

Professor Little was presented with the 2023 Basic Science Research Award by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI). Chris said he was delighted and honoured to receive the award, which acknowledges outstanding research and progress. “OARSI is the premier international organisation dedicated to osteoarthritis research, so it is a particularly great honour to receive this award recognising our discovery science into this debilitating disease,” he said. Osteoarthritis is a major cause of individual pain and disability worldwide, and is the number one disease contributing to healthcare expenditure in Australia. There are currently no treatments to halt osteoarthritis progression and long- term management of associated pain is very poor. “We will only be able to develop new treatments once we have a better understanding of the cell and molecular mechanisms that initiate and drive osteoarthritis joint damage and pain. “The basic science research that my team and I have been recognised for is influencing the models that are used worldwide to improve the translation of basic science discoveries to new treatments. “Our research is making these models more predictive and identifying specific patient groups where the therapies will be effective. “We hope that this will have a major impact on osteoarthritis discovery and drug-development research. “As the Kolling Institute is located on a healthcare campus at Royal North Shore Hospital, we have the privilege

Professor Chris Little

Professor Carol Pollock

Carol is on several industry boards and is an ambassador of Business Events Sydney. Her dedication to her clinical and research endeavours have been recognised with many accolades, including a ministerial award for excellence in cardiovascular research and a Vice Chancellors award for research supervision from the University of Sydney. In 2021, Carol received the Haiyan Wang Award which recognises individuals who have made substantial contributions to the clinical or translational science and development of nephrology service and education in the Asia Pacific Region. In that year, Carol was also appointed an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to medical

research, education and science, nephrology and clinical practice.

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