BGRF honours for neurological researchers focussed on patient outcomes

Associate Professor Piero Perucca

The 2019 Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation honours have gone to researchers focussed on patients' quality of life. One, Professor Malcolm Horne, has already contributed a lifetime to improving the lives of patients with neurological disease and is an international leader in medical research while the other, Associate Professor Piero Perucca, is already making a big impact despite his youth.


The BGRF awards this medal and a $5,000 gift for an outstanding contribution to clinical research in progressive neurological disorders, stroke or palliative care. Past winners have included the cream of Australia’s research community such as Professor Ian Maddocks, Professor Claude Bernard, Professor Frederick Mendelsohn, Professor Colin Masters, Professor Geoffrey Donnan, Professor Sam Berkovic, Professor Philip Beart, Professor Stephen Davis, Professor Linda Kristjanson, Professor Trevor Kilpatrick, Professor Ingrid Scheffer, Professor Kathryn North, Professor Roberto Cappai, Professor Terence O’Brien and Professor Frank Vadja.

Professor Malcolm Horne was awarded the 2019 BGRF Medal for his dedication to researching and treating movement disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to awarding the medal for lifelong contribution to medical research, the Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation also recognizes our best and brightest young researchers destined to be future world leaders through its Young Researcher of the Year award. The 2019 prize has been awarded to Associate Professor Piero Perucca for his exceptional work as an academic clinical neurologist, researcher and teacher.

Less than two years out from completing his PhD, Associate Professor Perucca has already had an impact on the diagnosis and management of people with epilepsy. His current research focuses on uncovering genetic factors in the most common forms of epilepsy. Identifying a genetic cause for a person’s epilepsy is important for counselling and selection of the most appropriate treatment and has the added dimension of contributing to the discovery of new precision-based therapies.

Presenting the prize on behalf of the Foundation, Professor Terry O’Brien, Head, Department of Neuroscience at Monash University's Central Clinical School, himself a previous recipient of the BGRF Medal, said that Piero is an exceptional person with rare humanistic qualities and integrity and that he is on track to become one of Australia’s leading clinical academics. Professor O’Brien emphasized Piero’s exceptional capacity for work demonstrated by his 45 articles in leading medical journals and outstanding academic achievements including graduating from medical school top of his class and securing three fellowships which he followed up by securing more than $800,000 in research funding to date.

Please contact Julienne Lewis CEO, Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation on 0409513443 if you would like any further information on the Foundation or winners.