Royal Commonwealth Society
Phyllis Montgomerie Award 2026
Dr Anthony Newman, a Post-Doctoral fellow in the Burgio Laboratory of the John Curtin School of Medical Research at ANU, is the recipient of the RCS ACT Branch 2026 Phyllis Montgomerie Commonwealth Award. His research project aims to provide low cost and fast access to genetic technology for the detection of many diseases and different types of viruses, bacteria and genetic disorders, as well as having applications in agriculture.
The work involves the use of CRISPR, a naturally occurring system of DNA sequences, which unlike other technologies, does not require separate tests for each disease. Development of certain CRISPR enzymes, an extension of Dr Newman’s PhD work, is enabling his current research to concentrate on adapting these for point-of-care diagnostics. The aim is to create low-cost procedures that can be run at room temperature and produce results in less than an hour.
The technique will be widely shared by ANU, through a clinical trial consortium operating across Australia, the UK, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa. The low cost of the procedures would be of great benefit to poor African countries where, since USAID was stopped, current diagnostic companies are withdrawing.
The Award is funded by a bequest in the will of a former RCS ACT Branch President, Mrs Phyllis Montomerie, for a research or education project of potential benefit to Commonwealth citizens.
To see a project details and our previous winners click here.
Report by: Maueen Hickman
