Person

Metcalf, Donald (1929 - 2014)

AC FAA FRS

Born
26 February 1929
Mittagong, New South Wales, Australia
Died
15 December 2014
Occupation
Medical scientist and Science administrator

Summary

Donald Metcalf was Head of the Cancer Research Unit and Assistant Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 1965-1996. He was the recipient of a great many national and international awards.

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Details

Chronology

1950 - 1951
Career position - Demonstrator of Bacteriology, University of Sydney
1951
Education - Bachelor of Medical Science (BSc (Med)), University of Sydney
1953
Education - Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (BS), University of Sydney
1953 - 1954
Career position - Resident Medical Officer, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
1954 - 1956
Career position - Carden Fellow in Cancer Research, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Parkville, Victoria, Australia
1958 - 1964
Career position - Head, Cancer Research Laboratory, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Parkville, Victoria, Australia
1961
Education - Doctor of Medicine (MD), University of Sydney
1964
Award - David Syme Research Prize, University of Melbourne
1965 - 1996
Career position - Head, Cancer Research Unit and Assistant Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Parkville, Victoria, Australia
1966
Award - Britannica Australia Award for Medicine
1968
Award - Mollison Prize for research on pathology, The Australian Medical Association (AMA), Australia
1968
Award - AMA - BMA Prize for Medical Research, Australian and British Medical Associations
1969 -
Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
1973
Award - Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Excellence in Scientific Research
26 Jan 1976
Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - for service to medicine through scientific research, particularly cancer research
1977
Award - Eric Susman Prize, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
1980
Award - Gold Medal, Australian Cancer Society
1983 -
Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)
1986
Award - Wellcome Prize, The Royal Society, London
1986 - 1996
Career position - Research Professor of Cancer Biology, University of Melbourne
1993
Award - Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science
1993
Award - Albert Lasker Clinical Research Award (US)
1993
Award - Neil Hamilton Fairley Medal, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
13 Jun 1993
Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - for service to medicine through scientific research, particularly cancer research
1995
Award - Royal Medal, The Royal Society, London
1996
Award - Inaugural Amgen Australia Award
2000
Award - Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation, State of Victoria
1 Jan 2001
Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society through biomedical science
2002
Award - President's Medal, Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology
2004
Award - Ruth Sanger Medal and Oration, Australian and New Zealand Society for Blood Transfusion

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Books

  • Metcalf, Donald; Miller, Jacques; and Nossal, Gus, Immunological memories: 1965 - 1996 at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute ([Melbourne]: [Walter and Eliza Hall Institute], ), 34 pp. Details

Journal Articles

  • Alafaci, Annette, 'Donald Metcalf: Father of Modern Haematology', Australasian Science, 22 (4) (2001), 46. Details
  • Nicola, Nicos A., 'Donald Metcalf AC, 26 February 1929 - 15 December 2014', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 62 (2016), 409-31. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.2016.0013. Details
  • Nicola, Nicos A., 'Donald Metcalf 1929 - 2014', Historical Records of Australian Science, 27 (2) (2016), 176-19, https://doi.org/10.1071/HR16003. Details

Newspaper Articles

  • Hilton, Donald, Alexander, Warren and Nicola, Nicos, '"Colossus" of medical research shone a light into the darkness for those who followed him: Donald Metcalf, scientist, 26-2-1929 - 15-12-2014', The Age (2014), 20. Details

Resources

Resource Sections

See also

  • Crawford, Anne, Let there be light: 100 years of discovery at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (Carlton, Vic.: Miegunyah Press, 2016), 149 pp. Details

Gavan McCarthy

Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 28 August 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P000638b.htm

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