PETER SILBURN

University of Queensland
Bachelor of Science (Honours) 1980
Doctor of Philosophy (1983)
Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery (1988)

2010 RECIPIENT - CONVOCATION MEDAL FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

To say Professor Peter Silburn is a worthy recipient of the University’s Convocation Medal is an understatement.

His outstanding contribution to professional excellence in leadership, knowledge and professional practice in his field has more than earned him the prestigious award.

Professor Silburn’s cutting edge work in the area of neuroscience and stem cell technology is paving the way for new-found hope to Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disease suffers on a national and international scale. His fundamental stem cell research is targeted at producing restorative therapies to improve patient treatment.

Professor Silburn was an integral member of the team that was awarded the $22 million Australian government grant for the National Adult Stem Cell Research Centre in 2006 based at Griffith University. He now heads a research team at the University of Queensland which is pioneering Deep Brain Stimulation research, which aims to improve the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome.

His thirst to succeed, a passion for his field of work, along with the secret ingredient of a ‘hard-work’ ethic, has seen him recognised as an international leader in neuroscience.

Dr Silburn accepted the award humbly. “I am still amazed that I was even nominated. It has been an honour to accept the award,” he said. 

He praised the University of Newcastle for its positive academic working environment. “Newcastle is a great place to live and the University is just the right size to do great focussed work,” he said.

Professor Silburn graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in 1980, and received a Doctor of Philosophy (1983), Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (1988) from the University of Queensland.