New direction for VU research

The scientist behind a blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s years ahead of symptoms presenting is Victoria University’s new Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Impact.

Global leader and ground-breaking molecular neurological scientist Professor Andy Hill has focused on investigating the causes of diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease.

He has developed a blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s and is using the same molecular mechanisms to develop early diagnostics for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and BSE.

“We are hoping the Alzheimer’s test will soon be used by GPs and pathology labs to diagnose the disease long before symptoms present,” Professor Hill said.

“We are also hoping it can be used by drug developers to determine if new medications are an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s and at what point in the disease progression they offer benefit.

“These diseases are so common now because we are all living a lot longer. It’s one of the significant health problems we need to address so we can all age better.”

Speaking about why he chose a career in molecular science, Professor Hill said creativity and opportunity to answer some of the world’s tough medical questions saw him abandon plans for a career in medicine, for the laboratory.

“I just loved research from the moment I set foot in a lab. Being about to do an experiment that no one has ever done before and come out with an answer that no one has ever seen before, that whole discovery aspect is where my passion for research really started,” Professor Hill said.

“All scientists are detectives in a way. We are all trying to create new knowledge and find out new things. We have research questions we want to answer and it is all about finding out how you can get to that answer. I think detective work describes it pretty well.”

Professor Hill said he would focus on lifting the profile of Victoria University’s high-quality research and would aim for laboratories to go green, after having established Australia’s first laboratory to receive Green Lab certification at La Trobe University.

“A lot of it is behavioural changes and understanding things like: where we are using the most electricity and how we can reduce it,” he said. “It is an ongoing process.”

Professor Hill has secured more than $52 million in funding as a Chief Investigator of research projects.

In his spare time, Professor Hill heads for the outdoors, mountain bike riding, walking, cooking and brewing beer – most of which is fun and staves off neurological decline.

Hear more from Professor Hill on the People of VU Podcast.