Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)'s Professor Mimi Tang has been recognised at the BioMelbourne Network's Women in Leadership Awards.
The awards celebrate and champion women who contribute significantly to the health sector and inspire others in their industry.
Professor Tang has received the 2024 Distinguished Leadership Award for her pioneering research that has reshaped the landscape of allergy management by making remission of allergies a tangible reality. She has also been recognised for her achievements in biotech commercialisation.
Professor Tang's work at MCRI has led to paradigm shifts in clinical management of food allergies and has inspired new therapeutic approaches that are making a difference in the lives of patients worldwide.
Image: Professor Mimi Tang
Professor Tang, also CEO of biotech company Prota Therapeutics and board director of digital healthcare platform AllergyPal, said she was honoured to receive the accolade.
"It is wonderful to be recognised alongside numerous other talented women by the BioMelbourne Network," she said.
"This award reaffirms my commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific innovation and making a meaningful impact on the lives of patients suffering from food allergies."
Professor Tang's research into a food allergy treatment has led to the discovery of a peanut oral immunotherapy (the gradual introduction of the allergenic food) that is highly effective at inducing clinical remission of allergy in children.
"As there is currently no cure, patients must adhere to strict allergen avoidance, which can lead to psychological distress," she said. Other oral immunotherapies can desensitise patients, but our treatment can lead to a substantial improvement in quality of life because it allows children in active remission to eat peanut freely, with no need for continued treatment."
Professor Tang is ranked amongst the top 1 per cent of highly cited researchers in the immunology field and has secured over $72 million in research grant funding during her career.
Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia CEO Maria Said AM, said "Professor Tang's innovative approach to food immunotherapy has not only revolutionised treatment methods but has also significantly improved the health and well-being of children living with food allergy. The impact of her work goes beyond the laboratory and clinical settings; it directly translates into meaningful outcomes for children and their families, offering children a path to remission and a life free from the burden of severe food allergies."
