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Media Release

August 25 2008

Award a dream come true for sleep researcher

Professor Drew DawsonProfessor Drew Dawson, Founder and Director of the Centre for Sleep Research (CfSR) at the University of South Australia, has taken the top honour for Excellence in Research for Commercial Benefit in this year’s South Australian (formerly Premier’s) Science Excellence Awards.

This award is open to individuals or teams who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in conducting scientific research and development including the transfer of knowledge to achieve outcomes of commercial and/or economic benefit.

A regular commentator on sleep and health issues in the international, national and local media, Prof Dawson has worked tirelessly to promote the importance of sleep and fatigue as health and occupational safety issues.

His research has resulted in the significant reduction of fatigue-related risk and the incidence of fatigue-related accident and injuries in many companies throughout the transport, mining, health care and manufacturing industries.

Since joining UniSA in 1992, Prof Dawson’s research has received major funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council. Last year, he was awarded a prestigious US National Institute of Health grant to study the effects of recovery sleep on cognitive performance.

UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Høj said the award was an important recognition of Prof Dawson’s pioneering research and his outstanding ability as a communicator.

“As a result of the impressive research track record of Prof Dawson, his colleagues and students, the CfSR – which is the largest group of its type in Australia - ranks among a handful of elite sleep labs internationally,” Prof Høj said.

“This award is a fitting acknowledgement of how Prof Dawson’s scientific leadership and work, especially in minimising the consequences of sleep loss in a variety of industries, are making a very real, practical difference to the lives of workers, their families and their employers at State, national and international levels.

“It’s a shining example of UniSA’s industry-focused research and community engagement, and we congratulate Prof Dawson on receiving this honour.”

Two other distinguished UniSA scientists were also named as finalists at Friday night’s South Australian Science Excellence Awards ceremony.

Professor Ravi Naidu, Managing Director of CRC CARE at UniSA, was a finalist for the title of South Australian Scientist of the Year.

Associate Professor Libby Roughead from UniSA’s School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences was a finalist in the Excellence in Research for Public Good Benefit category.

On behalf of the University, Prof Høj extended his congratulations to Prof Naidu and Assoc Prof Roughead.

“Prof Naidu’s CERAR celebrates its fifth birthday this year. With the CRC CARE, it is now a national focal point of research into the remediation of soil, air and water,” Prof Høj said.

“Assoc Prof  Libby Roughead’s research, particularly in the areas of pharmaceutical policy and the quality use of medicines, is making an enormous contribution to improving the health of all Australians.

“I am sure the entire University community will join me in congratulating Profs Naidu and Roughead as distinguished leaders of scientific research and enquiry.”

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