Emeritus Prof John Furness receives Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours
Prof John Furness, Dept Anatomy & Physiology, received the honour for his distinguished service to medical research in the field of autonomic neuroscience and neurogastroenterology in this years’ King’s Birthday Honours.
I am pleased to have the honour. It is an acknowledgement of the value of basic biomedical research... I am driven by curiosity for scientific knowledge and by the opportunities for scientific collaboration.
Prof John Furness’ expansive career in biomedical disciplines and his unwavering dedication to teaching and research spans several decades.
Prof Furness has long been a highly influential leader in the research of digestive and metabolic diseases, his research has provided the modern-day guide to how the intrinsic nervous system of the digestive track functions and controls various functions, movements and mechanisms of the gut.
His research focuses on understanding the function and organisation of nerve circuits that control the digestive system, addressing both intellectual and technical challenges in the field. "My work has aimed to use the knowledge gained to improve health," he emphasised, underscoring his commitment to advancing medical understanding and application.
Reflecting on this prestigious accolade, Prof Furness expresses the sources of inspiration that drive him daily, “I am inspired by being in a supportive environment and having excellent scientific collaborators, including students, colleagues, and mentors."
The Emeritus Professor recognises the impact the University of Melbourne community has had on his career, “I would like to highlight the important role of the University and, in particular, the Department of Anatomy and Physiology and its head, Professor Matt Watt, for the encouragement and for providing the facilities that have allowed my research to flourish.”
Today, he continues to enrich the academic community as an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, leading the Furness Laboratory of Digestive Physiology and Nutrition, and as a senior scientist at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience.
Additional Awards and Achievements include:
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
- Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
- Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
- Australian Centenary Medal
- Davenport Award of the American Physiological Society
- Fellowship and Gold Medal, L’accademia delle scienze dell’istituto di Bologna
Our warmest congratulations to Prof John Furness on receiving this highly coveted honour.