Sir MacFarlane Burnet OM AK KBE (1899 - 1985)
1960 Award

Winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine

Victorian-born Burnet studied medicine at the University of Melbourne and spent his working life at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. His early work provided a foundation for modern biotechnology and genetic engineering. In 1943 he became Director of the Institute, which went on to lead the world in studies of the influenza virus and immunology.

Burnet's major contributions were in the mechanics of virus replication and mutation, and in immunology. In 1960, Burnet and a British scientist shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine for the discovery of the concept of acquired immunological tolerance, on which Burnet had worked with fellow Australian scientist Jean MacNamara. This explained why we do not form antibodies to our own bodily constituents and paved the way for human organ transplants. He retired in 1965 but continued his research and wrote 16 books. He was determined to show that first-class quality science could be carried out in Australia by Australians. The award of Australian of the Year was a source of deep personal satisfaction for Burnet.