Monash Victorian Heart Institute Excellence in Research and Innovation Award 2023

Nominated for, and selected as a recipient of, the 2023 Monash Victorian Heart Institute (VHI) Excellence in Research and Innovation Award, part of the VHI End-of-Year Awards. The award includes a $500 cash prize.

Awarded to an Academic staff member in recognition of outstanding contributions or discoveries and pioneering advancements in their field of study, showcasing their exceptional commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. This award celebrates their pursuit of excellence and their significant impact on driving forward the frontiers of research and innovation. The end-of-year awards recognise excellence in research and education, outstanding professionalism and collaborative spirit, and innovative approaches that have made a difference in improving cardiovascular health and fostering a vibrant and thriving institute. They inspire us to keep pushing boundaries and making transformative impact.

The nomination received on your behalf:
Dr Michael Houghton is an early career researcher specializing in cell metabolism, biochemistry and molecular nutrition. Since relocating from the UK to Monash, he has established an innovative research program which focuses on the association between biologically active dietary components, metabolism and chronic diseases. In particular, he has pioneered the use of high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) for the assessment of carbohydrate metabolism. This highly novel work resulted in a publication in Nature Protocols (Dec 2022), and is representative of the highly innovative research that Michael is undertaking at the Victorian Heart Institute. Michael has significantly elevated the global recognition of his research, enhancing Monash's reputation as a cardiovascular research hub. To train other researches, he recently held a workshop on novel carbohydrate metabolism techniques at the joint conference of the Nutrition Societies of Australia and New Zealand. This international workshop not only showcased his groundbreaking work but also contributed to global recognition of the research conducted at the Victorian Heart Institute. By actively engaging in such workshops and conferences, he ensures the dissemination of cutting-edge knowledge, fostering a highly skilled future workforce at local, national, and global levels.