Woodward, Marles and Littlejohn Medal recipients celebrated for research excellence

L-R: Littlejohn recipients Associate Professor Garron Dodd and Associate Professor Vihandha Wickramasinghe, Woodward recipients Professor Heather Douglas and Professor Michael Kearney and Marles recipients Professor Jacqueline Peel, Professor Brendan Wintle, Ms Natasha Cadenhead and Professor Michael Hofman.

The University of Melbourne has announced the recipients of the 2025 Woodward, Marles and inaugural Littlejohn Medals, celebrating outstanding research excellence and impact across a range of disciplines.

From conservation and climate resilience to advancing cancer therapies and advocating for women, our pioneering researchers continue to contribute to advancing knowledge, improving lives and innovating for the world of tomorrow.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Cassidy said the award recipients exemplify the University of Melbourne’s commitment to delivering enduring positive impact through research.

“The 2025 medal winners demonstrate the vital role the University’s researchers play in shaping policy, practice and innovation across the globe,” Professor Cassidy said.

“Their work has expanded the boundaries of knowledge in their fields and underscores the high calibre of world-leading research undertaken at the University.”

Littlejohn Medal

Established in 2025, the Littlejohn Medal recognises contribution to knowledge and research excellence in Health and Medical Sciences (HMS). The Littlejohn Medal is named after the University of Melbourne’s Dr Jean Littlejohn OBE CBE MB MS DLO FRACS (1899-1990) who made remarkable contributions throughout her career to otolaryngology and ophthalmology research, surgery, and teaching. The inaugural medal was jointly awarded to two recipients:

Associate Professor Garron Dodd was recognised for his landmark Nature publication uncovering “neurofibrosis” as a novel driver of obesity and type 2 diabetes. His discovery has opened new avenues for therapeutic development, led to the creation of a spin-out company, and attracted major international recognition, including the 2025 Helmholtz Diabetes Researcher of the Year award.
Associate Professor Vihandha Wickramasinghe was recognised for his pioneering research in RNA biology, including two landmark publications in Nature and Molecular Cell. His discoveries have created new opportunities for cancer therapies and led to the formation of biotech company exteRNA, translating his findings into first-in-class treatments.

Woodward Medals

The Woodward Medals, established by former University Chancellor Sir Edward Woodward and Lady Woodward, recognise knowledge and research excellence across the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS), and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

In HASS,Professor Heather Douglas has been awarded for her groundbreaking book Women, Intimate Partner Violence and the Law. Drawing on three years of in-depth interviews with 65 women, the book provides a rigorous socio-legal analysis of how women engage with the legal system in the context of intimate partner violence. Acclaimed internationally, the work has been cited widely across multiple disciplines, influenced government inquiries in Australia, and contributed to the establishment of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, where Professor Douglas is Deputy Director.
In STEM, Professor Michael Kearney has been awarded for his pioneering work developing the NicheMapR software package and associated publications. NicheMapR integrates physical, biological and computational sciences to predict species’ responses to environmental change with unprecedented precision. Downloaded more than 6000 times and cited in leading journals including Science and Nature, the software has had a profound impact on global research, conservation strategies and environmental policy.

Marles Medals

The Marles Medals, named in honour of Ms Fay Marles AM, an alumna and first female Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, recognise significant research impact in HASS, STEM and HMS.

In HASS, Professor Jacqueline Peel was recognised for her world-leading and transformative contribution to global climate governance through her pioneering research on climate litigation. Her work has directly influenced landmark legal victories, resulting in tangible reductions in coal power generation. Her publications have also guided philanthropic investment strategies and informed international judicial training and reforms. Extensively cited in the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, Professor Peel’s work has had a global influence on climate governance and environmental protection.
In STEM, Professor Brendan Wintle and Ms Natasha Cadenhead were recognised for their profound impact on environmental policy and public awareness through their influential paper Spending to Save: What will it cost to halt Australia’s extinction crisis? Their research provided a groundbreaking economic framework for biodiversity funding, shaping parliamentary inquiries, policy platforms and public debate. Following the Black Summer bushfires, Wintle’s leadership helped secure a $200 million federal commitment to species recovery.
In HMS, Professor Michael Hofman was awarded for his pioneering research into PSMA PET/CT imaging and Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy, which has transformed global prostate cancer care. His work established new international standards of practice, informed FDA approval processes, and led to major investments in theranostics and precision medicine.