Biomedical scientist Alan Mackay-Sim, whose research helped achieve a feat described as "more impressive than man walking on the moon", has been named the 2017 Australian of the Year for his pioneering stem cell research.
Professor Mackay-Sim's work was central to the 2014 surgery that allowed Darek Fidyka, a Polish firefighter, to walk again and even ride a custom-built bicycle. This made him the first paraplegic in the world to recover mobility after the complete severing of the spinal nerves. The success was hailed by fellow researcher Geoff Raisman as more impressive than the moon landing.
More National News Videos
- Video duration
- 03:19
2017 Australian of the Year: Alan ...
2017 Australian of the Year: Alan Mackay-Sim
Biomedical scientist Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim has been named 2017 Australian of the Year for his pioneering work in repairing damaged spinal cords. Vision courtesy ABC TV and Griffith University.
Up Next
Two dead after plane crashes into Swan River
- Video duration
- 00:32
- Video duration
- 00:32
Two dead after plane crashes into Swan ...
Two dead after plane crashes into Swan River
Two people have died after a plane crashed into Perth's Swan River in front of thousands of people gathered for the Australia Day Skyworks display. Vision courtesy Seven News.
Up Next
What's Australia Day like for an Aboriginal community?
- Video duration
- 03:39
- Video duration
- 03:39
What's Australia Day like for an ...
What's Australia Day like for an Aboriginal community?
Aboriginal people lived on the land now known as Lake Tyers, also known as Bung Yarnda, for at least 50,000 years before the campaign to dispossess and eradicate them began. Here, like many other aboriginal communities, January 26 is nothing to celebrate.
Up Next
What makes a great teacher?
- Video duration
- 02:02
- Video duration
- 02:02
What makes a great teacher?
What makes a great teacher?
Everyone has met one, but what does it really take to provide the perfect learning environment? We asked an expert.
Up Next
Largest haul of illegal abalone in 20 years
- Video duration
- 00:30
- Video duration
- 00:30
Largest haul of illegal abalone in 20 ...
Largest haul of illegal abalone in 20 years
The Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and the NSW Police have seized kilograms of illegal shark fin and abalone.
Up Next
Neutral Google Doodle on Australia Day
- Video duration
- 01:15
- Video duration
- 01:15
Neutral Google Doodle on Australia Day
Neutral Google Doodle on Australia Day
Google takes a neutral position on Australia Day by highlighting the Great Barrier Reef.
Up Next
Australia Day's highest honours
- Video duration
- 01:50
- Video duration
- 01:50
Australia Day's highest honours
Australia Day's highest honours
Some of Australia's finest have received honours, including singer Jimmy Barnes, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and many more. Vision courtesy ABC News 24.
Up Next
Eden's unexpected great white surfing buddy
- Video duration
- 00:35
- Video duration
- 00:35
Eden's unexpected great white surfing ...
Eden's unexpected great white surfing buddy
10-year-old surfer Eden Hasson says he's lucky he stayed on his surfboard after a close encounter with a great white shark. Courtesy Seven News.
2017 Australian of the Year: Alan Mackay-Sim
Biomedical scientist Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim has been named 2017 Australian of the Year for his pioneering work in repairing damaged spinal cords. Vision courtesy ABC TV and Griffith University.
Mr Fidyka, who had been stabbed 18 times in the back by his partner's former husband four years earlier, described the feeling of recovering movement in his legs as akin to being "born again".
Professor Mackay-Sim is a leading global authority on the human sense of smell and the biology of nasal cells. The successful surgery that allowed Mr Fidyka to walk again involved taking cells from his nose, growing them in a lab and injecting them into his spinal cord.
Professor Mackay-Sim, 65, himself relied on a stem cell transplant two years ago when he was diagnosed with myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer that develops in the bone marrow.
He was presented with his Australian of the Year award by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday night.
When he was recognised as Queensland's Australian of the Year, he expressed "shock and horror" that he had been singled out for recognition given his research involved work by many fellow scientists.
Sister Anne Gardiner, an 85-year old Catholic nun, was named Senior Australian of the Year for her work in promoting Tiwi culture and supporting the local community on Bathurst Island, where she moved when she was 22.
Fashion designer Paul Vasileff, 26, whose creations have been worn on the Oscars red carpet, was named Young Australian of the Year.
Professor Mackay-Sims said he hoped to use the award to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and research into rare brain diseases.
He said Australia should prioritise research and health spending not only to care for the disabled and diseased in the community but for radical treatments to reduce health costs, including the seven clinical trials under way in Australia testing new treatments for spinal cord injury.
"Researchers need a long view, much longer than the political horizon," he said.
"More than 10,000 people in Australia have a spinal injury and we add to that tally by a person every day and the cost to Australia is about $2 billion annually.
"Now 60 years ago, Australia was one of the first countries to move away from the idea that spinal cord injuries could not be treated and intense research in the last 20 years gives hope that future spinal cord injuries will be treated early and the effects minimised."
His appointment follows former army chief David Morrison, who was recognised last year for his work in promoting gender equality and diversity.
Professor Mackay-Sim was recognised above other state finalists including mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, refugee advocate Paris Aristotle and child soldier-turned lawyer Deng Adut.
He grew up in Roseville on Sydney's north shore and served for a decade as the director of the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research at Griffith University.
His work there pioneered the use of stem cells to understand the biological basis for conditions such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and hereditary spastic paraplegia.
He received his PhD from Macquarie University before studying at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and the University of Wyoming, Laramie.
His appointment follows previous Australians of the Year with scientific backgrounds including climate change activist Tim Flannery, immunologist Ian Frazer, biologist Gustav Nossal and epidemiologist Fiona Stanley.