ANU trio recognised with national awards for health research

A trio of exceptional researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) has been recognised by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for their significant contributions to health research and policy.  

Professor Raymond Lovett, Professor Emily Banks AM and Professor Philip Batterham have received prestigious awards at the NHMRC Research Excellence and Biennial Awards.  

Epidemiologist and public health physician Professor Emily Banks AM has been recognised with a Biennial Award for her exceptional contribution, advocacy and commitment to the NHMRC.  

Professor Banks’ cutting-edge research into the prevention and early intervention of smoking-related illness has significantly impacted public health policy across Australia.  

“I am grateful and honoured to receive this award and to have been able to contribute to health and medical research in Australia, including through the NHMRC,” Professor Banks said. 

“Public health research is the ultimate team sport, involving large multidisciplinary teams, as well as the community.  

“Anything that I have achieved reflects the contribution of literally millions of people, all playing their part in making a positive difference to health and wellbeing.” 

Professor Philip Batterham has also received a Biennial Award, acknowledging his excellence in peer review.  

The inaugural 2025 NHMRC Peer Review Excellence Award (Senior Researcher) recognises the quality of mentorship and contributions of the researcher.  

As co-leader of the Centre for Mental Health Research, Professor Batterham is trialling and implementing programmes for suicide prevention and mental health issues by identifying mental ill health within our communities and reducing healthcare-related barriers to care.  

Despite being a sizeable commitment, Professor Batterham describes the peer review process as highly rewarding.  

“It is a privilege to read about exciting new ideas that have the potential to improve health outcomes in Australia and worldwide, particularly in the critically important areas of mental health, suicide prevention and substance use,” he said.  

“It is also a privilege to discuss these ideas with highly experienced and thoughtful peers, and the knowledge I gain from this process has been invaluable in shaping how I think about my research.”  

Professor Lovett from the ANU Yadhura Walani Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing has been honoured with the 2023 NHMRC David Cooper Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Award for his ground breaking project “Counting what counts: Counting what counts: using a national cohort study to develop, validate and apply an Indigenous Quality of Wellbeing Utility Index and quantifying key determinants of health”.

The Mayi Kuwayu cohort study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing, which Professor Lovett leads, was also recognised among the “10 of the best” NHMRC projects in recent years.  

The awards were presented at a ceremony on Wednesday 26 March.