A University of Queensland scientist whose pioneering work has helped unravel the complexity of the human genome and genetic traits has won a 2017 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.
Professor Jian Yang, from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), was awarded the Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year tonight at Parliament House.
UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said it was the second year in a row that a UQ scientist had won the award, with Professor Kerrie Wilson taking the honour in 2016 for her work on the value of ecosystems and the most effective ways to protect them.
“Professor Yang had made paradigm-shifting contributions to the study of human genetics through developing new methods for identifying the genetic factors underlying complex diseases,” Professor Høj said.
