P007726 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2025-05-29 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-02-02 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007726b.htm person Alpers Michael Philip AO FAA FRS AACR2 21 August 1934 3 December 2024 Place of Birth Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Place of Death Perth, Western Australia, Australia Medical scientist Epidemiologist Michael Alpers is internationally renowned for his research into tropical diseases in Papua New Guinea. In particular he made crucial observations on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and aetiology of the prion disease kuru, and showed that this was a communicable disease. His studies in this area were critical in understanding other prion diseases, including Creutzfeld-Jacob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). He also made important field studies of malaria and pneumonia. Between 1977 and 2000 Alpers was Director of the Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea. His research during this time made the Institute of world importance. In 2001 he moved to Western Australia where he was John Curtin Distinguished Professor of International Health at Curtin University for 11 years. His work is acknowledged with Honorary Fellowship or Life Membership of leading Australian and international societies in the fields of tropical and infectious diseases and epidemiology. 1955 1955 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) University of Adelaide 1957 1957 Education - MA, University of Cambridge 1961 1961 Education - MB BS, University of Adelaide 1961 1963 Career position - Kuru Research Officer, Department of Public Health, Papua New Guinea 1964 1967 Career position - Visiting Scientist, National Institutes of Health, U.S.A. 1968 1976 Career position - Research Fellow (later Senior Research Fellow), University of Western Australia 1977 2000 Career position - Director, Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea 1981 2024 Award - Fellow, Indian Society for Malaria and Other Communicable Diseases 1983 1990 Career position - Member, Research Strengthening Group, Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organisation (WHO) 1984 1984 Award - Medal of the Collège de France 1984 1999 Career position - Editor, Papua New Guinea medical journal 1989 2024 Award - Life Member, Pacific Science Association 1990 1990 Award - Macdonald Medal, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1991 2024 Award - Fellow, World Academy of Sciences 1992 Award - Fellow, Centre for Human Biology, University of Western Australia 1993 2024 Award - Honorary Fellow, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1999 1999 Lecture - Macfarlane Burnet Orator, Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases 1999 2014 Career position - Member, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee, External Research Evaluation Committee, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute 1999 2024 Award - Honorary Life Member, Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases 2000 2024 Award - Emeritus Member, Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 2001 2004 Career position - Adjunct Professor, Centre for International Health, Curtin University of Technology 2001 2012 Career position - Member, National Health and Medical Research Council 2001 2024 Career position - Fellow, Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians 2002 2024 Award - Life Member, Medical Society of Papua New Guinea 2004 Award - Honorary Senior Fellow, Institute of Neurology, University College, London 2004 2004 Life event - Retired 2005 2005 Award - Papua New Guinea Jubilee Medal 2005 2005 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to medical science as a leading international researcher in the fields of tropical medicine and public health, including research on the disease Kuru, and for contributions to improving health and economic development in Papua New Guinea 2005 2016 Career position - John Curtin Distinguished Professor of International Health, Curtin University 2006 2015 Career position - Member, Research Advisory Committee, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health 2008 2008 Award - Lifetime Achievement Award, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University 2008 2024 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 2011 2024 Award - Life Member, Australasian Epidemiological Association 2012 2012 Award - Doctor of the University (honoris causa), University of Adelaide 2012 2024 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 2015 2024 Award - Honorary Fellow, Australasian College of Tropical Medicine 2017 2024 Career position - Emeritus Professor, Curtin University 2020 2020 Award - ANZAAS Medal, Australian New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 2025 2024 Award - Fellow, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health (c. 2000 - )

Member, Research Advisory Committee 2006 - 2015

 ANZAAS Medal, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (1965 - )

Awarded the Medal 2020

 Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) (1938 - )

Fellow, Faculty of Public Health Medicine 2001 - 2024

 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Commonwealth of Australia (1936 - )

Member 2001 - 2012

 Curtin University (1987 - )

John Curtin Distinguished Professor of International Health 2005 - 2016

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 2012 - 2024

 Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (1976 - )

Honorary Life Member 1999 - 2024; Macfarlane Burnet Orator 1999

 Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (1991 - )

Honorary Fellow 2015 - 2024

 'Alpers, Michael Philip', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Alpers, Michael Philip Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: The Academy's Fellows [including profiles and other relevant links] Australian Academy of Science The Academy's Fellows [including profiles and other relevant links] Canberra Australian Academy of Science 2019 Resource Section: The man who linked Kuru to cannibalism: a chat with intrepid biologist Michael Alpers Chandler, Jo The man who linked Kuru to cannibalism: a chat with intrepid biologist Michael Alpers 2016 Cosmos magazine 12 May Journal Article: Michael Alpers (FRS), Kuru, and Papua New Guinea: the combined allure of problem, people, and place Spark, Ceridwen Michael Alpers (FRS), Kuru, and Papua New Guinea: the combined allure of problem, people, and place 2010 Health and history 14 2 26-45 Journal Article: Obituary: Professor Michael Alpers AO FAA FRS 21 August 1934 - 3 December 2024 Anon Obituary: Professor Michael Alpers AO FAA FRS 21 August 1934 - 3 December 2024 2024 Newsletter, Australian Academy of Science 188 Resource Section: Remembering Professor Michael Alpers AO, distinguished collegian, and pioneering medical scientist Anon Remembering Professor Michael Alpers AO, distinguished collegian, and pioneering medical scientist North Adelaide St Mark's College 2024 Book: The collectors of lost souls: turning Kuru scientists into white men Anderson, Warwick The collectors of lost souls: turning Kuru scientists into white men Baltimore, MD Johns Hopkins University Press 2019