Professor John Mattick has won the 2006 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science. The prize recognises Professor Mattick’s scientific leadership, organisational vision and exemplary commitment in the establishment and development of the Australian Genome Research Facility and the Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

CSIRO’s chief executive Dr Geoff Garrett says Professor Mattick has demonstrated sustained leadership and commitment to science over a long period, making him a very worthy winner.

“Once again, the high quality nominations received for this prize this year highlight the wonderful talent of science leadership in Australia,” Dr Garrett said.

Professor Mattick joined the University of Queensland in 1988 to build up molecular biology and biotechnology at the university.

Under his leadership and strategic vision the new centre for molecular biology and biotechnology grew to employ more than 150 of Australia’s brightest and best scientists and delivered significant international discoveries, such as the role of so-called “junk DNA” and non-coding RNA.

Professor Mattick played a key role in alerting the Queensland Government to the potential of biotechnology.

He helped engineer Queensland’s Smart State campaign and was instrumental in the creation of a series of research institutes: the Centre for Molecular Biology and Cellular Biology and the Australian Genome Research Facility. Most recently he has brought these groups together to form the Queensland Bioscience Precinct, which employs more than 700 scientists.

Queensland now enjoys a reputation for strong bioscience research, unique facilities, and a stream of 11 biotech start-ups which are turning Professor Mattick’s science vision into commercial success.

Professor Mattick recently stepped aside from his role as Director of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, to focus on his science. He will continue his research challenging the dogma of “junk DNA” - the 98.5 per cent of our DNA that does not code for genes and which until recently was thought not to do anything.

Professor Mattick believes that it actually constitutes a hidden regulatory system, which would explain why humans are much more complex than say, worms, which have almost as many genes as us.

In addition to the prestigious CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science, Professor Mattick receives $10,000.

The Australian Museum Eureka Prize winners were announced at the Eureka Prize awards dinner in Sydney tonight (Tuesday 22 August). The Eureka Prizes reward outstanding achievements in Australian science. The prizes are awarded in four categories: Research, Leadership and Innovation, Education and Science Communication.

The Eureka Prizes are Australia’s premier science awards and largest single national award scheme for research into critical environmental and sustainability issues facing Australia.