Proposal for Award of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Medicine
Mr Alan Hampson

Alan Hampson graduated from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Melbourne in 1960 having been funded under the cadetship scheme by the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (now CSL Ltd). His spare time was spent at the CSL Parkville site learning the manufacturing processes for vaccines, diagnostic reagents and for penicillin. Upon graduation he was appointed Research Scientist in their Virology Research department and during the next 6 years contributed to the further development and evaluation of the new polio vaccine as well as being responsible for diagnosis of poliomyelitis in this country on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Health.

Alan Hampson’s interest in influenza virus began in 1967 when he was involved in the development and evaluation of a safe flu vaccine, utilizing a process that is still the basis of the vaccines produced today at CSL. He took leave from CSL to undertake an MSc at the University of Melbourne where he conducted seminal studies on the protein composition of the virus. Obliged to return to CSL, he rapidly became Head of the Virology Group and later of the Virology Research and Development Department. In 1985 he was appointed Scientific Manager of CSL Research and Development Division and since then has occupied several senior R & D positions within the company. His work during this time has lead to improvements in the safety of vaccines linked to their mode of manufacture and in the assessment of vaccine efficacy. In addition his studies on HIV provided Australia with the world’s first widely available confirmatory test for this newly emerging infectious agent. He has continued to publish a steady stream of important papers on Influenza throughout his career.

Alan Hampson assumed responsibility for the operation of the National World Health Organisation (WHO) Influenza Reference Centre at CSL, becoming its Director in the early 1980’s. He led the Centre in 1992 to become a WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza alongside the British (NIMR) and US (CDC) Centres. Since then the Centre has become part of the global influenza surveillance network aiming to reduce the impact of influenza worldwide and to optimise vaccine design.

Alan Hampson is a recognised international expert in influenza providing regular advice to the WHO in Geneva and guiding public health influenza preparedness in Australia. As convener of the Influenza Specialist Group, he brought together clinicians and other stakeholders to help develop national vaccination programs and policy. Their annual Flu Awareness program has lead to a massive ten-fold increase in influenza vaccine uptake and to a Commonwealth Government policy decision to provide free vaccine to the elderly. He continues to serve on several Ministerial Committees to share his expansive knowledge of all aspects of influenza virology and control. His ability to convey this knowledge with clarity and authority has also lead to his becoming Australia's primary interface between scientists and the general public through the media on all topics relating to influenza. He has also been an enthusiastic participant in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching courses at the University of Melbourne and elsewhere.

This honorary Doctorate will pay tribute to Alan Hampson’s exceptional 40 year contribution to influenza, acknowledging his influence across many sectors including vaccine and diagnostic research and development, surveillance, public and academic education, public health policy and regulation.