2007 John Monash Scholar Dr Owen Siggs awarded $8 million to support his world-leading research as inaugural Snow Fellow
The Snow Medical Research Foundation has announced 2007 John Monash Scholar Dr Owen Siggs as an inaugural Snow Fellow, with an $8 million dollar award for innovative medical research. Owen is currently an early-career clinician-scientist with a career focus on the clinical impact of germline and somatic genetic variation. As a Snow Fellow he will be researching ways to combat autoimmune disease and improve the quality of life for patients.
Owen was awarded a John Monash Scholarship in 2007 to complete a DPhil/PhD from The University of Oxford and The Scripps Research Institute specialising in Genetics. Owen trained in science and clinical medicine in Adelaide and in immunology and genomics at the John Curtin School of Medical Research with Professor Chris Goodnow. As a John Monash Scholar he worked at The Scripps Research Institute in California with Nobel Laureate Professor Bruce Beutler, and at the University of Oxford with the Nuffield Professor of Medicine Richard Cornall. He was then a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow at The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, and a Visiting Fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
His research career has spanned the use of large-scale genome-wide mutagenesis to discover the function of genes essential for immunity, to the use of exome and genome sequencing to diagnose severe inherited diseases. His current interests include the use of large-scale population and single cell genomics to understand the clinical impact of germline and somatic genetic variation, and the application of this information in clinical practice.
The Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) is investing $24 million—as part of the prestigious Snow Fellowships program—in three inspiring scientists, with more funding to come as new fellowship applications open today.
The inaugural Snow Fellows are each receiving $8 million to support their world-leading, game-changing research—with $1 million in funding each, every year, for 8 years.
Terry Snow, the founder of Snow Medical, said Australian scientists need freedom to focus on their exceptional research and not worry about funding as they strive to deliver the breakthroughs the world needs.
“Invest in exceptional people, support the next generation of our research leaders, keep our best and brightest in this country—then Australia and the world can only benefit from a healthier future,” Terry Snow said.
“With the health and economic challenge Australia and the world face right now, we must invest in the brilliant minds among us who offer solutions for a bright future.
“For each of these scientists $8 million is transformative funding, that will change the course of their careers and give them the best chance to find cures, treatments, and greater knowledge to benefit potentially millions of people’s health around the world.”
Tom Snow, the Chair of Snow Medical, said that the calibre of this year’s fellows is exceptional, and he looks forward to assessing next year’s potential fellows who will begin applying from today.
“Heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Each of these fellows work has the ability change and save lives and I can say on behalf of the whole Snow family, we are very proud to support each and all of them.” Snow said.
“We want to invest in the best researchers with a bold vision. We want Snow Fellows to take risks and we want them to be the next generation of medical research leaders.”
“We have a long-term vision. As we recognise and award more fellows in years to come, we will build a network of Australia’s world-class researchers, our best and brightest and an ‘ecosystem’ of shared knowledge and achievement.”
“I invite you to read about and view the videos of our fellows this year. If you think you are a researcher of the same calibre we invite you to apply for the fellowship from today.”