University unit

John Curtin School of Medical Research

1948 -

The John Curtin School of Medical Research was established in 1948 through the combined efforts of Howard Florey (Australian Nobel Laureate) and Prime Minister John Curtin. Florey was the Academic Advisor for medical research at ANU from 1947 to 1957 on the invitation of the Interim Council of the University. He established professorial appointments for four departments: Biochemistry in 1948 headed by Professor Hugh Ennor, Medical Chemistry in 1949 headed by Professor Adrian Albert, Microbiology in 1949 headed by Professor Frank Fenner and Physiology in 1951 headed by Professor John Eccles, followed by the Experimental Pathology Group in 1954 with Professor George Mackaness at its head. Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine were awarded to Sir John Eccles in 1963, and Peter Doherty and Rolf Zinkernagel in 1996 for work carried out at the JCSMR.

university administration; research; teaching and learning

Directors
• Professor Arnold Ennor: Jun 1953 – Feb 1967
• Professor Frederick Courtice: Feb 1967 – Sep 1967 (acting)
• Professor Frank Fenner: Sep 1967 – May 1973
• Professor Frederick Courtice: May 1973 – Nov 1974 (acting), Nov 1974 – Dec 1976
• Professor Frank Gibson: Jan 1977 – Dec 1979
• Professor Robert Porter: Mar 1980 – Feb 1989
• Professor David Curtis: Mar 1989 – 1992
• Professor Kevin Lafferty: 1993 – Dec 1998
• Professor Steve Redman: Jan 1999 – Aug 1999
• Professor Judith Whitworth: Aug 1999 – Jun 2008
• Professor Frances Shannon: Jun 2008-2009
• Professor Julio Licinio: 2010-2013
• Professor Christopher Parish: 2014-2015
• Professor Simon Foote: 2015 -

Created by Claire Griffiths, 15 August 2011; revised 13 February 2013

The Australian National University, http://heritage.anu.edu.au/site1/_includes/Files/423_JCSMR.pdf
Frank Fenner and David Curtis, The John Curtin School of Medical Research: The First Fifty Years 1948-1998.