veski family welcomes 12th and 13th fellows

In June, the veski family welcomed Drs Matthew Call and Christopher McNeill as the 2011 veski innovation fellows.

Dr Call received a non-Australian veski innovation fellowship and relocated to WEHI from Harvard University while Dr McNeill received the Australian veski innovation fellowship and relocated to Monash University from the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory.

On Thursday 9 June 2011, the Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher announced the 2011 veski innovation fellows. Friends and family of the new veski innovation fellows joined members of the extended veski family and senior leaders from government, education, business and science sectors at the Victorian Government’s Sir Redmond Barry Room for the announcement.

Dr Call will carry out landmark research into chemical signalling in diseased cells. He will study the structure and function of the molecular sensors used by cells of the immune system that detect signs of infection or cancer to initiate an appropriate immune response.

Dr McNeill is working as a lecturer and researcher at Monash University. His research will explore new approaches to pattern organic solar cells on the nanoscale, to realise improved efficiencies and understanding of semi-conductor device operation.

Both Fellows and their laboratories will use key Victorian science facilities such as the Australian Synchrotron, as well as NMR, protein production and high throughput screening facilities to advance their research. Also collaborating with the many other first-class researchers already located here in Victoria.

Both have already begun to make significant contributions to science in Victoria, including additional funding for their research areas.