Outstanding mentor named Eureka prize finalist

Leading infectious diseases researcher, Clinical Associate Professor Deborah Lehmann AO, has been named a finalist for the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes for her work training and mentoring a new generation of researchers.

Professor Lehmann has been honoured in the Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers category for the prestigious national awards rewarding excellence in the fields of research & innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science.

Professor Lehmann, Head of Ear Health at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at Telethon Kids Institute, has spent over 40 years making a difference to the health and well-being of children.

The highly respected researcher spent 17 years living in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where she helped to reduce the burden of childhood infectious diseases.

Her dedication to preventing pneumonia –the major killer of young children in PNG and other developing countries – can be credited with saving the lives of many thousands of babies.

After moving to Australia in 1998 and joining the Telethon Kids Institute, Professor Lehmann used the skills and research expertise she acquired in PNG to establish programs in acute respiratory infections, otitis media (middle ear infections) and Aboriginal health while supporting the early-career researchers following in her footsteps.

Professor Lehmann said she felt honoured to have had the opportunity to mentor so many promising young researchers, including the 10 Aboriginal researchers she guided as part of a National Health and Medical Research Council Indigenous Capacity Building Grant.

“Leading the first-ever capacity building grant with all Aboriginal researchers was one of the most rewarding achievements of my career – the cohort achieved five PhDs and became the next generation of leaders in Aboriginal health research,” Professor Lehmann says.

“I sought to mentor Aboriginal researchers so they can achieve their goals and become independent in their chosen fields. In doing so they became friends and colleagues who have taught me so much about the underlying factors leading to poor health in their communities.”

Founding Director and now Patron of the Telethon Kids Institute Professor Fiona Stanley AC said Professor Lehmann had been an outstanding mentor over many years.

Professor Jonathan Carapetis with Clinical Associate Professor Deborah Lehmann and Professor Fiona Stanley

“In addition to being an intellectually gifted researcher herself, Professor Lehmann is passionate about social justice, has integrity and brings a deep knowledge of different cultures and societal factors for various diseases and how to research them,” Professor Stanley says.

“Every one of her students loves her, admires her and is grateful for how she has changed their lives.”

Telethon Kids Institute Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis congratulated Professor Lehmann on her nomination.

“Combined with her considerable research achievements, her reputation as a generous, caring and compassionate mentor means Professor Lehmann’s influence will be felt by many – and most importantly by children and their families,” Professor Carapetis said.

Professor Lehmann was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2012 for her work reducing serious chest and ear infections in children.

She also has the Deborah Lehmann Research Award named in her honour, which provides training and development for early career researchers in the Western Pacific Region.

The Australian Museum Eureka Prize winners will be announced in Sydney on 28 August.