A Brisbane researcher has received one of the highest honours in the Australian health and medical research community.
QIMR Berghofer Cancer Aetiology & Prevention Senior Group Leader Professor Rachel Neale has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
Professor Neale was one of 29 researchers from across the country recognised in the Academy’s 2025 cohort of new Fellows, for her exceptional contributions to epidemiology, particularly her ground-breaking research into vitamin D, cancer and public health.
QIMR Berghofer Director and CEO Professor Fabienne Mackay said the honour highlighted the global impact of Professor Neale’s work.
“Her research has not only advanced scientific understanding but has also changed how we approach prevention and public health.” Professor Mackay said.
As a senior researcher at QIMR Berghofer, Professor Neale has led large-scale studies that have reshaped global understanding of the role of vitamin D in disease prevention and management.
Her work has directly informed clinical practice guidelines and public health strategies, influencing how vitamin D supplementation is approached in Australia and internationally.
Her research has also extended into cancer epidemiology, where she has investigated risk factors and prevention strategies for pancreatic cancer and other malignancies.
Academy President Professor Louise Baur said the new Fellows represented the very best of the health and medical sciences in Australia.
“Our new Fellows are improving lives — from tackling global health challenges and pioneering new treatments, to shaping policy and advancing the frontiers of biomedical discovery,” Professor Baur said.
Professor Neale joins a community of more than 500 Fellows who are shaping the future of health and medicine in Australia and beyond.
“I am incredibly proud and humbled to be joining such extraordinary scientists as a Fellow of the AAHMS,” Professor Neale said.
“My goal is to use this honour to increase my impact on the health of the community.”
