Doug Hilton

Hilton migrated to Australia with his family in 1970 and grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Warrandyte. He was educated at Warrandyte Primary School and East Doncaster High School, where he recalls being inspired by “a wonderful biology teacher”.[http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/media/podcasts/pod08/03_doug_hilton.htm A conversation with Professor Doug Hilton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706121633/http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/media/podcasts/pod08/03_doug_hilton.htm |date=6 July 2011 }} NHMRC podcast, 20 March 2008.

Hilton received a Bachelor of Science from Monash University. He spent summer holidays as an undergraduate researcher in the laboratory of Ian Young at the John Curtin School of Medical Research. His Honours and PhD research projects were conducted with Professors Don Metcalf and Nicos Nicola at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, and resulted in the cloning of the cytokine Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF).[http://www.wehi.edu.au/about_us/leadership/the_director/ The Director] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216152703/http://www.wehi.edu.au/about_us/leadership/the_director/ |date=16 February 2011 }} Walter and Eliza Hall Institute website.

Hilton spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow studying the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor with Professor Harvey Lodish at the Whitehead Institute, MIT, USA. In 1993 Hilton returned to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute where he continued his research into cytokine signalling, with discoveries including the interleukin-11 receptor, the interleukin-13 receptor, and the Suppressors of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) proteins. In recent years, together with Professor Warren Alexander and Dr Benjamin Kile, Hilton has established a new program using large-scale mouse genetics and genomics to identify regulators of blood cell formation, with a view to determining targets for the development of new medicines. He has been the head of the Institute's Division of Molecular Medicine since it began in 2006, and is a professor in the University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science.

From 1997 to 2001, Hilton served as Director of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cellular Growth Factors,[http://www.ludwig.edu.au/CRC-CGF/ Ludwig Institute Archives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301023904/http://www.ludwig.edu.au/CRC%2DCGF/ |date=1 March 2011 }}. Ludwig.edu.au (24 June 2011). Retrieved on 2016-10-26. during which he initiated the Australian [https://web.archive.org/web/20110218073133/http://www.bio21.com.au/pages/urop Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)]. He is also a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of the biotechnology company MuriGen Therapeutics.[http://www.murigen.com.au/Pages/About_SAB.html Scientific Advisory Board] MuriGen Therapeutics. He currently serves on the Board of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation Medical Research Advisory Committee,{{cite web |url=http://www.acrf.com.au/about-acrf/medical-research-advisory-committee/ |title=ACRF Medical Research Advisory Committee |publisher=Acrf.com.au |date= |accessdate=10 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003124622/http://www.acrf.com.au/about-acrf/medical-research-advisory-committee/ |archive-date=3 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} the Victorian Cancer Agency Plan Implementation Committee, the Victorian Life Sciences Computational Initiative Steering Committee,{{cite web|url=http://www.vlsci.unimelb.edu.au/news_steering_com.html |title=The Victorian Life Sciences Computational Initiative Steering Committee |publisher=Vlsci.unimelb.edu.au |date= |accessdate=10 October 2011}} the Board of the Bio21 Cluster,{{cite web |url=http://www.bio21.com.au/pages/about-us/the-board |title=Bio21 Cluster Board |publisher=Bio21.com.au |date= |access-date=10 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910153757/http://www.bio21.com.au/pages/about-us/the-board |archive-date=10 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }} and the Board of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand.[http://www.biotec.or.th/biotechnology-en/Board/Douglas-Hilton.asp National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316231104/http://www.biotec.or.th/biotechnology-en/Board/Douglas-Hilton.asp |date=16 March 2011 }}

On 1 July 2009, Hilton became the sixth Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.[http://www.wehi.edu.au/site/latest_news/the_walter_and_eliza_hall_institute_announces_the_next_director The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute announces the next Director] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301182603/http://www.wehi.edu.au/site/latest_news/the_walter_and_eliza_hall_institute_announces_the_next_director |date=1 March 2011 }} WEHI press release, 24 February 2009.

At the time of appointment, Hilton believed that the Institute's success requires:{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

• continuing its cornerstone research into cancer, blood cells, immunology, autoimmunity and infectious diseases, and enhancing this research with technological and investigative innovations including structural biology, chemistry, high-throughput screening, and mathematics and computational science.
• expanding the translational research conducted by the Institute and considering, in collaboration with indigenous communities and other organisations, ways in which the research strengths of the Institute can be constructively utilised to improve indigenous health in Australia.
• enhancing the institute's links with the University of Melbourne, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and other leading centres of excellence in medical research and education, and continuing to pursue collaborations with the private sector.

On 19 June 2023, it was announced that Doug Hilton was to become the Chief Executive of CSIRO starting 29 September 2023. {{cite web |url=https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2023/June/WEHIS-PROFESSOR-DOUG-HILTON--APPOINTED-AS-CSIRO-CHIEF-EXECUTIVE#:~:text=The%20Board%20of%20Directors%20of%20CSIRO%2C%20Australia%E2%80%99s%20national,as%20Chief%20Executive%2C%20commencing%20on%2029%20September%202023.|title=CSIRO Chief Executive Press Release|date=19 June 2023}}

• 1989 — Victorian Young Achiever of the Year
• 1993 — Queen Elizabeth II Postdoctoral Fellowship
• 1998 — Gottschalk Medal, Australian Academy of Science[http://www.science.org.au/news/media/youngres.html Young Australian Researchers Get Recognition At The Highest Level] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310113759/http://www.science.org.au/news/media/youngres.html |date=10 March 2011 }} 24 March 1998.
• 1999 — Australian Institute of Political Science, Victorian "Tall Poppy" Award[http://www.aips.net.au/275.html Young Tall Poppy Science Award winners – Victoria 1999] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218110849/http://www.aips.net.au/275.html |date=18 February 2011 }} Australian Institute of Policy and Science website.
• 2000 — Amgen Medical Researcher Award, Australian Society for Medical Research
• 2000 — Inaugural Commonwealth Health Minister's Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research
• 2003 — The GlaxoSmithKline Australia Award for Research Excellence
• 2004 — Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA)[http://www.science.org.au/news/media/newfel2004.html Science Academy Elects New Members] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221064554/http://www.science.org.au/news/media/newfel2004.html |date=21 December 2010 }} Australian Academy of Science Media Release, 26 March 2004.
• 2006 — COSMOS Bright Spark Award "Australia's Top 10 Scientific Minds Under 45"[http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/469 Cosmos Bright Sparks: Australia's top 10 young minds announced] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410065942/http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/469 |date=10 April 2011 }} COSMOS Magazine Media Release, 26 July 2006.
• 2008 — Australia National Health and Medical Research Council “Ten great minds in health and medical research”[http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/media/podcasts/greatminds.htm Great minds in health and medical research] National Health and Medical Research Council.
• 2009 — The Age Melbourne Magazine, “Top 100 People”
• 2010 — Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE)
• 2011 — Seymour & Vivian Milstein Award for Excellence in Interferon and Cytokine Research, International Cytokine Society and the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research{{cite web |url=http://www.milstein-award.org/2011/10/meet-our-newest-laureate-doug-hilton/ |title=2011 Milstein Award Announcement |publisher=Milstein-award.org |date=1 July 2009 |access-date=10 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329034223/http://www.milstein-award.org/2011/10/meet-our-newest-laureate-doug-hilton/ |archive-date=29 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}
• 2011 — Research Australia Leadership and Innovation Award{{cite web|url=http://www.researchaustralia.org/news-media/research-australia-annual-awards/annual-awards-2011 |title=Annual Awards 2011 - Research Australia |access-date=2015-06-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044515/http://www.researchaustralia.org/news-media/research-australia-annual-awards/annual-awards-2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |df=dmy }}
• 2012 — Lemberg Medal, Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology[http://www.asbmb.org.au/awards/hilton.html Douglas Hilton]. ASBMB (20 June 2014). Retrieved on 2016-10-26.
• 2012 — Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/science/eureka-prize-winners-20120828-24ykk.html |title=Eureka Prize winners |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=10 September 2016 }}
• 2013 — Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research {{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/warrandyte-research-scientist-professor-douglas-hilton-wins-prestigious-award-for-his-work/story-fngnvlxu-1226748316067 |title=Warrandyte research scientist Professor Douglas Hilton wins prestigious award for his work |work=Manningham Leader |date=30 October 2013 |author1=Filmer, Natalie |access-date=10 September 2016 }}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pEHMwXIjgs Ramaciotti 2013 Doug Hilton]. YouTube (3 July 2014). Retrieved on 2016-10-26.
• 2015 — Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences{{cite web |url=http://aamri.org.au/news-events/aamri-news/aamri-president-appointed-fellow-of-new-australian-academy-of-health-and-medical-sciences/ |title=AAMRI President appointed fellow of new Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences |publisher=Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences |date=26 March 2015 |access-date=10 September 2016}}
• 2016 — Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to medical research and education, particularly in the field of haematology, as a molecular biologist and author, to gender equity, and as a mentor of young scientists.{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1153682|title=It's an Honour – Hilton, Douglas James|date=13 June 2016|publisher=Australian Governor|accessdate=16 June 2016|location=Canberra}}
• 2017 – Monash Distinguished Alumni Award, Faculty of Biomedical and Physiological Sciences {{cite web |title=Monash Distinguished Alumni Awards |url=https://www.monash.edu/discovery-institute/news-and-events/news/monash-distinguished-alumni-awards |website=Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute |date=25 October 2017 |language=en}}
• 2020 – Melburnian of the Year {{cite web |url=https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-melbourne/celebrating-melbourne/melbourne-awards/all-winners/Pages/2020-melburnian-of-the-year.aspx}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.wehi.edu.au/faculty_members/professor_doug_hilton Doug Hilton] Faculty page,[http://www.wehi.edu.au/ Walter and Eliza Hall Institute]
• [http://www.murigen.com.au/ MuriGen Therapeutics]
• [http://aamri.org.au]

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