HMRI honours the Hunter's leading health and medical researchers each year through the HMRI Research Awards.

The HMRI Award for Research Excellence is HMRI’s premier award and recognises the achievements of an outstanding senior researcher who has made a sustained contribution to research in the Hunter.

The HMRI Director’s Award for Mid-Career Research recognises and rewards the dedication and achievements of one of the Hunter’s most gifted mid-career researchers.

The HMRI Award for Early Career Research supports and raises awareness of the work of the Hunter's most talented early career researchers, at a critical time in their career.

HMRI Award For Research Excellence
HMRI Award For Research Excellence
Zsolt Balogh
 

Professor Zsolt Balogh is Director of HMRI’s Injury and Trauma Research program and Director of Trauma at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital, the largest volume and lowest mortality trauma centre in NSW.

Outside of his clinical role, which sees him perform around 1,000 surgical operations each year and review 80 outpatients each week, and his role as convenor of the Master of Traumatology postgraduate program at the University of Newcastle, Professor Balogh demonstrates dedication to the importance of medical research through personal investment of time to research activities.

As a result of this dedication, he has authored over 300 peer-reviewed articles, has been cited over 24,000 times, and has convened a multi-disciplinary team of clinical researchers at HMRI dedicated to reducing the burden from injury, the 3rd leading cause of death.

HMRI Director's Award for Mid-Career Research
HMRI Award for Mid-Career Research
Matt Dun

Professor Matt Dun, is a discovery scientist and Deputy Leader of HMRI's Precision Medicine research program. A highly accomplished researcher, Professor Dun is dedicated to eradicating the deadliest childhood disease, DIPG/DMG, an aggressive form of brain tumour.

Professor Dun has become a major contributor to the scientific advancement of understanding the disease biology, with collaborations and connections with academic institutions across Australia and the world.

His work has led to the commencement of an adaptive combination therapy international phase II clinical trial for patients diagnosed with DMG, which is already seeing promising results.

HMRI Award for Early Career Research
HMRI Award for Early Career Research
Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy

The 2022 Early Career Researcher of the Year is Dr Michelle Kennedy from the HMRI Equity and Health and Wellbeing Research Program.

Dr Michelle Kennedy is a Wiradjuri woman who has grown up on Worimi country. She is an NHMRC early-career researcher, partnering with Aboriginal communities to place the power in their hands and address priority areas to improve Indigenous health. 

Dr Kennedy created a smoking cessation program for pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.