Curtin University has welcomed world renowned mycologist, Professor Wieland Meyer as the new Associate Dean of the Curtin Medical School.
Professor Meyer was most recently Professor of Molecular Medical Mycology at the University of Sydney and Head of the Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, and has established a globally recognised team to advance the understanding of fungal disease.
Professor Meyer has enjoyed a distinguished and varied career and his new role sees him come full circle. Rejected as a medicine student by the ruling Stasi in East Germany, he instead studied biology and then genetics before beginning work at a brewery. There he was asked to study the genetics of yeast strains- the beginning of his scientific detective work identifying fungi.
Curtin University Pro Vice-Chancellor Health Sciences, Professor Archie Clements said Professor Meyer’s vast experience and outstanding leadership in the field of medical mycology would both be incredible assets to the Curtin Medical School.
“Professor Meyer’s career in leading teams to translate research into real-world solutions, particularly by establishing global fungal reference sequence databases to enable a more accurate diagnosis and more effective public health response to highly infectious fungal pathogens, is truly outstanding,” Professor Clements said.
“We are delighted to welcome him to the Curtin Medical School, where he will support our Dean, Professor Sandra Eades, and play an integral part in leading our research programs.”
Curtin Medical School Dean Professor Sandra Eades said she was looking forward to working alongside Professor Meyer, particularly in the School areas of biomedical sciences, pharmacy, laboratory medicine and medical radiation science.
“Professor Meyer will bring a true collaborative spirit to his role, having cultivated long-standing international links to bring together scientists from all corners of the globe. He also has academic affiliations with universities in South-East Asia, Europe and South America,” Professor Eades said.
“He is a trail-blazer and innovator in his field, being the first in the world to develop the DNA “fingerprinting”, followed by numerous other molecular typing methods for fungi, which are crucial in investigating infectious disease outbreaks.”
Professor Meyer said he was excited to be joining the dynamic leadership team at Curtin and is eager to share his expertise and experience.
“I know Curtin has a wonderful reputation in Australia and internationally, as a quality research institution that focuses on delivering real outcomes, particularly in the health and medical spheres, and I am very much looking forward to being part of that journey,” Professor Meyer said.
Professor Meyer is also a Guest Professor at Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and President of the International Mycological Association.
He will take up his Associate Dean role in July.
