Research Professor in the School of Medicine at Griffith University, Professor Allan Cripps AO has been appointed the new chair of the Children’s Health Research Alliance, which is a joint initiative of Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service and the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
A former Pro Vice Chancellor (Health) at Griffith (2005 – 2016), Professor Cripps will start the new role on July 26 and said he was deeply honoured to be appointed to the role.
“I look forward to working with the Children’s Health Research Alliance to continue, grow and advocate research programs that can be translated into improved health outcomes for children both within Australia and world-wide,” he said.
Professor Cripps has had a distinguished career as both an academic and clinical scientist, working in hospital settings and the pharmaceutical industry. He is the Founding Editor of the Pneumonia journal, the only journal focusing exclusively on respiratory infection that remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide for children under five.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Society for Microbiology, the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists, the Institute of Biomedical Science in the UK and an Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Management.
Professor Cripps was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015 for distinguished service to tertiary education as a senior administrator, and to public health as a leading immunologist, academic and researcher. In 2016 he was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in recognition of his distinguished contributions to health and medical science in Australia.
Children’s Health Queensland Board Chair David Gow said Professor Cripps’ leadership and history of success in the field of health research would enable the Children’s Health Research Alliance to build its research capacity and capability, and ultimately deliver life-changing breakthroughs in care and treatment for children and young people.
“While our focus is here in Queensland, the impact of research undertaken by the Children’s Health Research Alliance will benefit children internationally,” Mr Gow added.
