[Music plays and the Coat of Arms and an image appears of a Frank Fenner Prize badge and text appears: 2022 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year, Professor Si Ming Man]
[Image changes to show Si Ming Man walking down the steps of the John Curtin School of Medical Research, and the camera zooms in on a close view of Si Ming Man walking]
Si Ming Man: My name is Si Ming Man. I'm an immunologist at the Australian National University in Canberra.
[Image changes to show a facing view of Si Ming Man walking down a corridor towards the camera]
When I was eight years old, I remember asking my mum to take me to see Jurassic Park because I really wanted to be a biologist.
[Image changes to show a close view of Si Ming Man talking to the camera]
Ever since then, I knew I really wanted a career in science.
[Image changes to show Si Ming Man walking through a lab and talking to his colleagues]
I lead a team of scientists at the ANU.
[Images move through to show Si Ming Man holding up a microscope slide and looking at it, placing it under a microscope and looking through the lens, and then looking at the slide on a computer screen]
We have found that different sensors, much like different alarm systems, are activated within our body in response to different types of infections.
[Images move through to show a close view of the slide on the computer screen, a male colleague listening and nodding, Si Ming Man talking to the camera, and a male researcher syringing up liquid]
And these responses can trigger inflammation, which help our body to eliminate and destroy different types of harmful germs, including bacteria and viruses.
[Images move through of researchers at work in a laboratory, and then the image changes to show Si Ming Man talking to the camera]
Our research shows that too much inflammation is harmful for the body because it can lead to sepsis and different types of cancer, like bowel cancer.
[Images move through of researchers working in a laboratory, Si Ming Man looking at a small vial of liquid, and then researchers working in the laboratory again]
Based on our research into inflammation, we are able to harness the most active part of the immune system and turn them into drugs. We found that these drugs are very effective in killing harmful germs.
[Image changes to show a very close view of Si Ming Man talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a medium view of Si Ming Man talking to the camera]
Our research makes a significant impact in improving the quality of our lives, especially for people in our community who are at the greatest risk of catching an infection.
[Images move through of Si Ming Man and a colleague walking down a corridor of the ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, and then sitting at a table and talking together]
We are now on track to develop new and innovative therapies that harnesses the immune system to fight against all sorts of diseases, including infection and cancer.
[Images move through of Si Ming Man sitting at a computer and working, and then Si Ming Man watching a researcher at work and then walking through the laboratory]
We will share our data with policymakers to develop new measures, creating a future of better health for all Australians.
[Image changes to show Si Ming Man talking to the camera]
With CSIRO, we are now testing our drugs against bacteria which came from our food, our farm and our soil.
[Images move through of Si Ming Man talking to researchers in the lab, one of the researchers holding up vials of green liquid, and then researchers at work in the laboratory]
I'm really excited that our work extends beyond medical research and to help find solutions to combat diseases affecting our agricultural and food industries.
[Image changes to show Si Ming Man talking to the camera]
It is an incredible honour to be a recipient of the Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year.
[Images move through to show Si Ming Man looking into a microscope, Si Ming Man and a colleague walking through a laboratory, Si Ming Man talking to the camera, and then Si Ming Man smiling]
This Prize will continue to inspire me and other young scientists to dream big and to take risks with our research to solve big problems.
[Music plays and the image changes to show the Coat of Arms and the Frank Fenner Prize badge and text appears: 2022 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year, Professor Si Ming Man]
