Mater Research is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Cameron Turtle as a member of the Research Advisory Board (RAB). The RAB provides independent strategic advice on clinical research or scientific related matters to the Mater Research Executive Leadership and Mater’s Chief Executive Officer. 

The appointment is a return to Mater Research for Professor Turtle, who completed his PhD in dendritic cell immunotherapy through Mater Research and The University of Queensland in 2005 under the supervision of Professor Derek Hart, Mater Research’s inaugural Director.  

During his PhD, Professor Turtle was awarded the 2003 Sister Regis Mary Dunne Medal for outstanding contribution to research and Mater Research for his work on blood dendritic cell immunotherapy.   

Professor Turtle trained as a haemato-oncologist and has worked in Australia and the United States of America leading clinical and laboratory research teams conducting multiple investigator-initiated phase clinical trials of genetically modified cellular (CAR-T cell) immunotherapies for patients with haematologic malignancies. 

Professor Turtle is currently the Clearbridge Chair in Cancer Immunotherapy at the University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, where he develops engineered T cell therapies for cancer.  

Professor Turtle said that he looks forward to re-joining Mater Research as an Advisory Board Member.  

“I’m delighted to be working with the team on the Mater Research Advisory Board and I am looking forward to seeing all of the exciting new developments at Mater Research,” Professor Turtle said.  

“With this appointment I hope to be able to help Mater Research achieve its mission in advancing health research.” 

Mater Research Executive Director Professor Maher Gandhi said that the appointment of Professor Turtle to the Mater Research RAB would help progress the strategic vision of Mater Research. 

“I look forward to working with the newly expanded Research Advisory Board with Professor Turtle on board. His experience leading research teams and facilities around the world means he has an in-depth understanding of the inner workings and needs of a world-class research facility,” Professor Gandhi said.  

Professor Turtle joins the RAB alongside current members:   

• Dr Carrie Hillyard, Advisory Board Chair  

• Professor Denise Doolan, Advisory Board Member  

• Professor Frank Gannon, Advisory Board Member  

• Professor John Savill, Advisory Board Member  

• Professor Karen Moritz, Advisory Board Member 

To learn more about the RAB, click here.