P007745 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2025-06-19 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-05-05 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P007745b.htm person Berkovic Samuel Frank AC FAA FAHMS FRS AACR2 13 October 1952 Place of Birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Neurologist Medical scientist Samuel Berkovic is a neurologist internationally renowned for his research in the genetics of epilepsy. His early work was in neuroimaging. He was a pioneer in applying brain imaging methods (eg MRI) to epilepsy. Berkovic and Ingrid Scheffer were the first to prove that many forms of epilepsy have a genetic component. It was in 1995 that they first identified the gene mutation associated with an idiopathic form of epilepsy. Further research led to the identification of other genetic mutations, and the concept that that epilepsies are, at least in part, a family of channelopathies where ion channels of cellular membranes malfunction. Berkovic has been at the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, a teaching faculty of the University of Melbourne for over 30 years. He has been Director and Chair of the Epilepsy Research Centre since 1998. Berkovic's wider contributions have included service as President of the Epilepsy Society of Australia and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Bruce Lefroy Centre at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. He has also been a member of the Classification and Terminology, and other Commissions, of the International League Against Epilepsy. Berkovic has received many awards for his research. In 2014 he and Scheffer received the Prime Minister's Prize for Science.

"Samuel Berkovic has made discoveries about familial forms of epilepsy that have led to a complete overhaul of their clinical management and provided new insights into their underlying biology. His research has established that mutations in single genes encoding neuronal membrane channels cause epileptic seizures. Professor Berkovic and his collaborators have discovered eight of the twelve genes presently known for which mutations are associated with idiopathic epilepsies. These discoveries have revolutionised basic scientific research into epilepsy. Professor Berkovic's research has been recognised over the past ten years by numerous awards and prizes within Australia and internationally." [from https://www.science.org.au/profile/sam-berkovic 19/6/2025]

1977 1977 Education - BMedSc, University of Melbourne 1977 1977 Education - MB BS, University of Melbourne 1981 Career position - Member, Australian Association of Neurologists 1984 1987 Career position - Epilepsy Fellowship, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 1985 Education - Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians 1985 1985 Education - MD, University of Melbourne 1987 1988 Career position - NHMRC Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellow, University of Melbourne 1987 1995 Career position - Neurologist (later Senior Neurologist), Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Austin Hospital 1988 Career position - Member, Epilepsy Society of Australia 1989 Career position - Adjunct Professor, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Canada 1989 Career position - NHMRC Senior Research Officer, University of Melbourne 1989 1994 Career position - Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne 1990 Career position - Member, American Academy of Neurology 1991 Career position - Member, Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Epilepsy, Victoria 1992 Career position - Honorary Neurologist, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne 1992 1995 Career position - Chairman, Victorian State Committee, Australian Association of Neurologists 1993 Career position - Member, American Epilepsy Society 1993 1993 Award - Eric Susman Prize, Royal Australasian College of Physicians 1994 1995 Career position - Chairman, Scientific Committee, 21st International Epilepsy Congress, Sydney 1994 1998 Career position - Chairman, Commission on Neuroimaging, International League Against Epilepsy 1994 1998 Career position - Member, Commission on Neurosurgery, International League Against Epilepsy 1994 1998 Career position - Member, Commission on Genetics, Pregnancy and the Child, International League Against Epilepsy 1995 Career position - Director, Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne 1995 1995 Award - Research Recognition Award (Clinical Investigator), American Epilepsy Society 1995 1998 Career position - Associate Professor, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne 1996 Career position - Member, Canadian Neurological Society 1997 1997 Award - Selwyn-Smith Medical Research Prize, University of Melbourne 1998 2007 Career position - Professor (Personal Chair), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne 1998 2007 Career position - Director, Epilepsy Research Centre, Austin Health 1999 Career position - Member, Editorial Board, Epileptic disorders 2000 2000 Award - Peter Bladin Award, Epilepsy Society of Australia 2000 2003 Career position - President, Epilepsy Society of Australia 2001 Career position - Scientific Director, Brain Research Institute, Melbourne 2001 2005 Career position - Chairman, Program Committee, World Congress of Neurology 2002 2002 Award - GlaxoSmithKline Australia Award for Research Excellence 2004 Career position - Member, American Neurological Association 2005 Career position - Member, Editorial Board, Brain 2005 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 2005 2005 Award - Curtin Medal for Excellence in Medical Research, John Curtin School of Medical Research 2005 2005 Award - Zülch Prize for Basic Neurological Research (shared with Christian Elger, Bonn), Max Planck Society, Germany 2005 2005 Award - Ambassador for Epilepsy Award, International League Against Epilepsy and International Bureau for Epilepsy 2005 2010 Career position - Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee, Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute 13 Jun 2005 13 Jun 2005 Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for service to medicine as a neurologist, particularly in the field of epilepsy research and treatment 2006 2006 Award - Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Excellence in Scientific Research 2006 2006 Award - Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research, Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation 2007 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 2007 Career position - Chair, Epilepsy Research Centre, Austin Health 2007 Career position - Laureate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne 2007 Career position - Inaugural Fellow, National Health and Medical Research Council 2007 2009 Career position - Member, Classification and Terminology Commission, International League Against Epilepsy 2007 2009 Career position - Chair, Grant Review Panels, National Health and Medical Research Council 2008 Career position - Member, Association of British Neurologists 2009 2009 Award - Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation Medal, Caulfield South, Victoria 2009 2013 Career position - Chair, Commission on Genetics, International League Against Epilepsy 2010 Career position - Member, Editorial Board, The lancet neurology 2010 2010 Award - Excellence Award, National Health and Medical Research Council 2010 2012 Career position - Member, Advisory Board, 13th Asian Oceanian Congress of Neurology, Melbourne 2011 2013 Career position - Co-Chair, Organising Committee, "Curing Epilepsy", National Institutes of Health 2011 2013 Career position - Chair, Sectional Committee for Medicine and Public Health, Australian Academy of Science 2014 2014 Award - Samuel Gershon Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Translational Neuroscience, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute 2014 2014 Award - Prime Minister's Prize for Science (shared with Ingrid Scheffer), Commonwealth of Australia 26 Jan 2014 26 Jan 2014 Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - for eminent service to biomedical research in the field of epilepsy genetics as a leading academic and clinician, to the study of neurology on a national and international level, and as an ambassador for Australian medical science education 2015 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS) 2017 Career position - Member, National Academy of Medicine, U.S.A. May 2026 May 2026 Career position - President, Australian Academy of Science Scheffer, Ingrid Eileen (1958 - ) Murdoch Children's Research Institute (1986 - )

Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee, Bruce Lefroy Centre 2005 - 2010

 Eric Susman Prize, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1962 - )

Awarded the Prize 1993

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

Inaugural Fellow 2007 -

 Australian Association of Neurologists (1950 - )

Chairman, Victorian State Committee 1992 - 1995

 Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research, Clive and Vera Research Foundation (1996 - )

Awarded the Medal 2006

 Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Excellence in Scientific Research (1959 - )

Awarded the Medal 2006

 Curtin Medal for Excellence in Medical Research, John Curtin School of Medical Research (2003 - )

Awarded the Medal 2005

 Brain Research Institute (1996 - )

Scientific Director 2001 -

 Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne (1991 - )

Professor (Personal Chair), 1998 - 2007; Laureate Professor 2007 -

 Austin Health

Chair, Epilepsy Research Centre 2007 -

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

Fellow 1985 -

 Prime Minister's Prize for Science, Commonwealth of Australia (2000 - )

Awarded the Prize (shared) 2014

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 2005 - ; President 2026 -

 Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2014 - )

Fellow 2015 -

 'Berkovic, Samuel Frank', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Berkovic, Samuel Frank Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: Fellows of the Academy Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Fellows of the Academy Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Book: Genetics of focal epilepsies Berkovic, Samuel, Genton, P. Hirsch, E. and Picard, F. Genetics of focal epilepsies Arcueil, France John Libbey Eurotext 1999 Journal Article: Dr Petert F Bladin AO Vajda, F.J. E.; and Berkovic, S. F. Dr Petert F Bladin AO 2022 Chiron Journal Article: Sam Berkovic: a need for answers Williams, Ruth Sam Berkovic: a need for answers 2010 Lancet: neurology 9 6 570 Resource: Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017] Recipients [of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, 2000 - 2017] Department of Industry, Innovation and Science 2017 Resource: Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia [Australia Day, 2014] Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia [Australia Day, 2014] Canberra Governor General's Office 2014