Indian-origin researcher is Western Australia's Australian of 2010

[Migration Help]

Born to parents who were from India, Professor Martins moved to Perth at 16 years of age.

Along with three other Western Australian award winners, he will join recipients from all other Australian states and territories as finalists for the national awards to be announced on January 25, 2010 in Canberra.

"The award signals Professor Martins' contributions to research on Alzheimer's disease. It is a recognition of the contribution by Professor Martins to medical science," said Mr. Peter Varghese, Australian High Commissioner to India.

"I am particularly delighted that Professor Martins has been honoured. His Indian background speaks of the contributions of the diaspora in Australia and stands testament to the multicultural nature of Australian society," added Mr. Varghese.

He shares Australia's breakthrough research on Alzheimer's disease with specialists in India.

Currently Professor Martins is collaborating with Dr. Jacob Roy, who is President and Founder of the Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI). ARDSI is involved in running Alzheimer-related clinics and research centres in India.

He works closely with Indian researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore; the National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Gurgaon, and with Dr. Benny Antony of Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd, based in Kerala with whom clinical trials will begin shortly in Australia to evaluate a novel formulation of the Indian herbal extract curcumin.

Professor Martins is also collaborating with Dr. Radha Murthy and her Nightingales Foundation, which is involved in understanding risk factors for Alzheimer's disease in the Indian population. Dr. Murthy is currently building a 70-bed Alzheimer's Care Centre with training and research facility in Bangalore, which will become functional by March 2010.

Professor Ralph Martins is recognised as a leader of research in Alzheimer's disease.

His team made the first significant discovery, showing that the beta amyloid protein that coats the brain is the foundation of Alzheimer's.

He has been instrumental in bringing to Perth new technology that makes it possible to determine if a patient has deposits of the toxic beta amyloid.Professor Martins continues to work to develop an early diagnostic blood test.

Professor Martins has through his Alzheimer's Centre of Excellence awarded PhD scholarships to outstanding Indian students to undertake postgraduate studies at Edith Cowan University under his supervision.

In addition he has recruited Indian postdoctoral scientists to work as key members of his research team in Australia.

As Director of Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Care, Research Director of the Sir James Mc. Cusker Unit for Alzheimer's Disease Research for over 20 years, and Inaugural Chair for Ageing and Alzheimer's Disease at Edith Cowan University, Professor Martins is working to develop an early diagnostic blood test.

His team, along with researchers in Melbourne, is undertaking the largest study of its kind in the world to develop the early blood test to identify the role of lifestyle factors which affect Alzheimer's disease.

SOURCE (http://www.indiaedunews.net/International/Indian-origin_researcher_is_Western_Australia%27s_Austral ian_of_2010_10346/)

MH

[Migration Help]

Thursday, January 21, 2010

WA's Australian of the Year, Edith Cowan University's Professor Ralph Martin, says Australia is an inclusive society, whose ideals of opportunity, the sharing of hardships, and a fair go is what makes the country great.

Born in the small island nation of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, Professor Martins emigrated to Australia at the age of 16, after spending seven years in a boarding school in Pakistan.

His parents were of Indian background from the west coast state of Goa, historically one of several Portuguese colonial enclaves which were annexed by India in the late 50s and early 60s.

'So, in effect, we were staying in a country where we had no nationality, we didn't have a country to call our own,' says Professor Martins.

'Australia, with it's 'fair go' and beautiful values was a very strong attraction to us. That's the reason why my father applied to migrate to Australia and we were fortunate enough to be accepted.'

Professor Martins reflects that his family have been given unique opportunities in Australia that they might not have enjoyed elsewhere.

'My eldest daughter, Jennifer, is a medical graduate,' he explains.

'She's currently completing her dental degree, but she wants to become a maxillofacial surgeon, to help reconstruct faces, and it's a wonderful opportunity for her that I don't think she would have experienced elsewhere.

'My second daughter is a pharmacist,' Professor Martins says.

'She's currently in Scotland but will be planning to come back, she wants to do higher education - and again, Australia offers those opportunities.

'And my youngest daughter is still finding herself; she's completed a year at university, and is studying psychology.'

Professor Martins says that Australia's unique cultural proprieties of equality, loyalty and friendship is what makes living in his home town of Perth so great.

'I've had such wonderful experiences (in Perth) ... I'd like to think that this is the sort of behaviour and attitude that we see throughout Australia,' he says.

Compassion, honesty and teamwork are quintessential Australian values, Professor Martins says.

'I think the sense of the mateship is an Australian phenomena. People helping one another and wanting to do things for one another is an Australian phenomena,' he explains.

'I think we are probably the greatest volunteers in the world, if you look at the amount of volunteer organisations in Australia.'

SOURCE (http://bigpondnews.com/articles/AustraliaDay2010/2010/01/21/Australia_a_country_of_volunteers_419789.html)

MH