Nick Hoogenraad
Nick Hoogenraad completed a PhD in Biochemistry in 1969. He commenced his lifelong interests in medical research when he joined the Pediatric department at Stanford University in 1969 as a post doc and in 1971 as an Assistant Professor in Human Biology. He returned to Australia in 1974 to join the new department of Biochemistry at La Trobe University and returned to the Biochemistry department in Stanford in 1979 as a visiting professor.
In 1990 he was awarded a Personal chair in Biochemistry and became Head of Biochemistry at La Trobe in 1993. In 1998 he was appointed Head of the School of Molecular Sciences (Departments of Biochemistry, Chemistry, Genetics and Pharmacy).
In 2009 he led a successful bid for an EIF application for $64.1 million for the creation of the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS; completed Nov., 2012) and took on the additional role as Executive Director of LIMS. In 2010 he was awarded a Charles La Trobe Distinguished chair in Biochemistry for his sustained contribution to La Trobe University.
He is internationally known for his work on mitochondrial biogenesis and on the role of molecular chaperones in protein targeting and folding in mammalian cells. He also discovered a new mitochondrial stress response or unfolded protein response (mtUPR). He has also been active in translational research: in 1995 he was part of a team which was awarded funding for the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Diagnostic Technologies; in 2000 he was part of the successful bid for the CRC for Diagnostics and in 2007 he led a team which was awarded $30.7 million to create the CRC for Biomarker Translation. He has served on the Boards of the CRC for Diagnostic Technologies, CRC for Diagnostics and the CRC for Vaccine Technologies and TransBio Ltd (CRC for Biomarker Translation).
In 2008 his interests became increasingly focused on the cause of cancer cachexia leading to the discovery of the Fn14 receptor as the cause of this condition. He and his colleagues developed monoclonal antibodies against the receptor which have proven to be therapeutic in preclinical models.
He has been active in the establishment of Outreach programs for secondary school students to encourage their interest in science through intensive periods of project work at La Trobe University. In 2015 more than 12,000 VCE and middle year students attended LIMS programs covering more than100 schools.
He was President of ASBMB (1997-1998). From 1997 to 2002 he was chair of the Australian Academy of Science National Committee for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He was a foundation editor of Today’s Life Science (1989) and established the Australian Biochemist in 1998. He was a member of the Australian Research Council Biological Sciences Panel (1991-1994) and National Health and Medical Research Council Biochemistry Discipline Panel, 2004-2005, Deputy Chair, 2006 and Chair 2007. He is a member of the National Characterization Council.
He has won many major awards for his research, including the Lemberg Medal, the highest award of the ASBMB (2004); Leach Protein Chemistry Medal (1997); AMRAD/Pharmacia Biotechnology Medal of the ASBMB (1994). In 2011 he was made an Honorary Life Members of the ASBMB. In 2014 he was awarded an AO for his contributions to science education and research.
Abstracts this author is presenting: