Hub Director named Queensland Young Tall Poppy of the Year

Hub Director Associate Professor Seth Cheetham has been named Queensland Young Tall Poppy of the Year, the top individual honour in the 2026 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. He was one of nine University of Queensland researchers recognised in this year's awards, announced on 14 September 2026.

The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards recognise early career researchers who combine research achievement with a commitment to communicating science to schools and the wider community. More than 100 Queensland scientists have received the award since the program began in 2001.

A/Prof. Cheetham is a group leader at UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Director of the National Biologics Facility, and Hub Director of the Australian mRNA Cancer Vaccine Hub. His group works on mRNA vaccines and on mRNA therapies for genetic diseases caused by alterations in DNA, and he is a chief investigator of a new research node established to move those treatments toward the clinic.

The eight other UQ researchers recognised in 2026 were Dr Nagham Ailabouni, Dr Michaela Blyton, Dr Margaret Jane Moore, Dr Giselle Newton, Associate Professor Michael Noetel, Dr Timothy Piatkowski, Dr Debottam Sinha and Dr Julian Steele.

The award recognises work that runs across the whole Hub, from vaccine design and manufacture at AIBN through to the clinical trials our partners run in Queensland hospitals.

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