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
Professor Brett Nixon

The HMRI 2022 winner for Research Excellence is Professor Brett Nixon from the HMRI Infertility and Reproduction Research Program. Brett is the Director of the HMRI Infertility and Reproduction Program

His research focuses on genetic and environmental factors that impact sperm quality.  

HMRI Director's Award for Mid-Career Research
HMRI Award for Mid-Career Research
Professor Pradeep Tanwar

The HMRI 2022 Mid-Career Researcher of the Year is Professor Pradeep Tanwar from the HMRI Cancer Detection and Therapy Research Program.

Pradeep specialises in gynaecological research and is the Director of the University of Newcastle’s Global Centre for Gynaecological Diseases. His work investigates what goes wrong with the female reproductive organs in pathologies, specifically endometriosis and gynaecological cancers, and how we can fix it.

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.