AsianScientist (Dec. 1, 2014) – One of the University of Queensland’s (UQ) leading materials science experts, Professor Yu Chengzhong (Michael), has been awarded a high-profile prize from the Australian Academy of Science.
Prof. Yu, group leader at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, has been recognized with the 2015 Le Févre Memorial Prize for his scientific research which ranges from developing new ways to deliver vaccines to improved water-treatment technologies.
UQ Provost and Senior Vice-President Professor Max Lu said Prof. Yu was an outstanding physical chemist who had made significant contributions in the innovation, design, preparation and application of novel nanomaterials.
“He has developed new strategies to design nanomaterials and is working on a diverse range of applications for these materials,” Prof. Lu said.
The many different applications offered by the new materials include drug and vaccine delivery, battery materials and water-treatment technologies.
Among the research undertaken by the Yu group at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology is the design of nanoparticles that mimic a virus to deliver medicines to diseased or damaged cells.
“Nanoparticles show promise as a platform for targeted delivery in gene therapy, cancer treatment and drug delivery,” Prof. Yu said.
His group has also engineered nanomaterials to remove toxins and other unwanted compounds from water and to develop functional materials for lithium-ion batteries, a technology which has monopolized the power-supply market for portable electronics since 1990.
The Le Fèvre Memorial Prize commemorates the work of the late Professor RJW Le Fèvre and recognizes outstanding scientific research in chemistry. Prof. Yu was presented with his A$3,000 (~US$2,565) Le Fèvre Memorial Prize at the Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s annual awards presentation.
—–
Source: University of Queensland.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
