Creator of the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer, Professor Ian Frazer was born in January 1953 in Scotland. He emigrated to Melbourne in 1980 to pursue studies in viral immunology and autoimmunity at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research with Prof Ian Mackay.
In 1985, he moved to Brisbane to take up a teaching post with the University of Queensland, and now holds a personal chair as head of the Diamantina Institute.
In 1991, Prof Frazer’s creation of the HPV vaccine was hailed as the world’s second cancer preventing vaccine, and the first vaccine designed to prevent a cancer.
He is also a director of a biotechnology start-up company, Coridon, with an interest in optimising and targeting polynucleotide vaccine protein expression.
Prof Fraser is president of Cancer Council Australia, and advises the World Health Organisation and the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation on papillomavirus vaccines.
He won the 2005 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science, the Australian of the Year in 2006, and the Prime Minister's Prize for Science in 2008.
Prof Frazer continues to teach immunology at the University of Queensland.
This person has made the short list for the title National Living Treasure, this title is conferred when someone accomplishes an outstanding achievement, swelling the country’s consciousness with admiration, pride and acknowledgement... be they scientists or sports stars; actors, artists or Indigenous activists; politicians, philanthropists or explorers, The National Trust’s 2012 nominees are a true cross section of our country’s finest.
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