Ian Frazer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ian Hector Frazer
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Frazer in 2008
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| Born | 6 January 1953 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Nationality | Australian, British |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh (BSc), (M.B.B.S.); Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; University of Melbourne (M.D.) |
| Known for | HPV vaccine creation |
| Awards | Australian of the Year (2006), Prime Minister's Prize for Science (2008), Australian Living Treasure (2012), Companion of the Order of Australia (2012) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Immunology |
| Institutions | Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland |
Ian Hector Frazer is a famous Australian scientist born in Scotland on January 6, 1953. He is an immunologist, which means he studies the body's immune system and how it fights off diseases. Dr. Frazer is best known for helping to create the HPV vaccine. This vaccine protects people from the human papilloma virus, which can cause certain types of cancer, especially cervical cancer in women.
He was the first CEO and Director of Research at the Translational Research Institute (Australia). Dr. Frazer and his research partner, Jian Zhou, developed the main technology for the HPV vaccine at the University of Queensland.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ian Frazer was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents were also scientists who studied medicine, which inspired him to love science from a young age.
He went to a private school called Robert Gordon's College. Even though he was interested in physics, he decided to study medicine because there were more opportunities for research in that field. He earned his first degrees in science and medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1974 and 1977. While studying there, he met his wife, Caroline, and they got married in 1976. After finishing his studies, he worked as a doctor in hospitals in Edinburgh and Haddington.
Moving to Australia
In 1980, Dr. Frazer moved to Melbourne, Australia. He was invited by Dr. Ian Mackay to join the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. There, he began to research how viruses affect the immune system.
In 1981, he made an important discovery. He found that a problem with the immune system, which was being seen in some people in San Francisco, was also present in men he was studying for hepatitis B. In 1984, he helped confirm that HIV was the cause of this immune problem. During his research, he also noticed something surprising: another virus, the human papilloma virus (HPV), seemed to be causing changes in cells that could lead to cancer.
In 1985, Dr. Frazer moved to the University of Queensland. This gave him the chance to start his own research laboratory. In his lab, he continued to study HPV in men and also contributed to HIV research. He also taught at the university and performed tests for the Princess Alexandra Hospital (Brisbane). He earned his advanced medical degree in 1988.
Developing the HPV Vaccine
In 1989, Dr. Frazer met Jian Zhou, a virologist (a scientist who studies viruses). They started thinking about how to create a vaccine for HPV. This was a big challenge because HPV is a virus that cannot be grown easily in a lab without living tissue.
Dr. Frazer convinced Zhou to join him in Australia. In 1990, they began using molecular biology to create tiny particles in the lab that looked like the HPV virus. These particles were called virus-like particles (VLPs).
The Breakthrough
In March 1991, Jian Zhou's wife and fellow researcher, Xiao-Yi Sun, successfully put together two proteins to form a VLP. This VLP looked just like the outer shell of the HPV virus. This was the key step that led to the creation of the HPV vaccine.
The vaccine was designed to protect people from four types of HPV that cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Cervical cancer affects many women around the world.
Dr. Frazer and Dr. Zhou quickly filed a patent for their discovery in June 1991. They then started working with the University of Queensland to develop the vaccine further. To get money for testing the vaccine in people, they sold parts of their patent to medical companies like CSL in Australia and later Merck internationally.
Testing and Approval
Later in 1991, their research was shared at a science meeting in the United States. Dr. Frazer became the Director of the Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research at the University of Queensland.
After three years of design, the HPV vaccine, known as Gardasil, began human testing. In 1998, Dr. Frazer completed the first human trials for Gardasil. Around this time, he also became an Australian citizen.
In 2006, the results from the final large-scale tests showed that the vaccine was very effective. It completely protected women who had not been exposed to HPV from the virus. This led to the vaccine being approved for use in Australia and the United States.
Public Recognition and Impact
In 2006, Dr. Frazer was named Queenslander of the Year and then Australian of the Year. He even gave the first official HPV vaccination.
After some concerns were raised about Gardasil in 2009, Dr. Frazer explained that serious side effects from the vaccine were extremely rare, like an allergic reaction happening in about one in a million cases. He is considered one of Australia's most trusted people.
Personal Life
Ian Frazer lives in Brisbane, Australia with his wife, Caroline. As of 2010, two of his sons were studying to become doctors, and his third son was a scientist who studies animals.
Awards and Honours
Dr. Frazer has received many awards for his scientific work. In 1999, he received the Australian Biotechnology Award. Since then, he has received more than twenty other awards, including:
- 2003: Centenary Medal for his work in cancer research
- 2005: CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science
- 2006: Queenslander of the Year / Australian of the Year
- 2008: Prime Minister's Prize for Science
- 2008: Balzan Prize for Preventive Medicine
- 2011: Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, a very prestigious scientific group
- 2022: Grand Hamdan International Award - Infectious Diseases
In 2012, Dr. Frazer was named a National Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia. On June 11, 2012, he was also given the highest honour in Australia, becoming a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). This award recognized his outstanding service to medical research, especially for leading the discovery of the HPV vaccine and its role in preventing cervical cancer.
Current Research and Work
Herpes Vaccine
In February 2014, it was announced that a new vaccine for genital herpes that Dr. Frazer worked on had passed safety tests in Australia. This vaccine is designed to help prevent new infections.
Ongoing Research
From 2011 to 2015, Dr. Frazer was the CEO and Director of Research at the Translational Research Institute (Australia). He continues to research how the immune system works and how to create vaccines that can treat diseases. He is working on a VLP-based vaccine for hepatitis C, and is also exploring ways to use VLP technology for dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis vaccines.
He has also overseen trials for the first vaccine against skin cancer (specifically Squamous cancer, which can be caused by HPV).
Teaching and Advisory Roles
Dr. Frazer teaches immunology to university students at the University of Queensland. He is also the president of the Cancer Council Australia and advises important organizations like the WHO and the Gates Foundation on HPV vaccines.
He also works as a consultant for many pharmaceutical companies on medicines that affect the immune system and on vaccines. He serves on the boards of several companies and non-profit organizations.
