Mr Kevin Koo, winner of the first prize of the Metrohm Australia New Zealand Young Chemist Award 2018 receives a check over A$ 5,000 from Mr Reto Broger, Managing Director of Metrohm Australia.
Nanodiagnostics for non-invasive prostate cancer detection
Mr Kevin Koo of the Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, was named as the inaugural winner of the Metrohm Australia and New Zealand Young Chemist Award 2018 for his research into developing non-invasive cancer nanodiagnostic technologies.
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among men but current clinical screening is still hampered by diagnostic accuracy issues. For this reason, Kevin’s work in enhanced detection of highly disease-specific RNA molecules in urine with novel nanoscaled biosensors is potentially of great benefit.
Falling within the scope of the award, Kevin has employed the use of two powerful analytical techniques, electrochemistry and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy in his research. Metrohm is a current developer of both techniques with an ongoing range of innovative products.
The jury was also impressed by his published research findings in many prominent journals like ACS Nano, Small, and Analytical Chemistry.
Therefore, by considering the novelty of his research, future practical value of his findings to the society, and high quality research output during his PhD studies, Kevin Koo has been awarded the Metrohm Young Chemist Award.
Two runner up prices were awarded to Mr Wade Lonsdale at the Edith Cowan University in Perth and Ms Mahsa Motshakeri at the University of Auckland.
Enhancing a glass free pH electrode based on RuO2
Pictured are Carlo Chiara, Wade Lonsdale and supervisor Prof Kamal Alameh.
Mr Wade Lonsdale at the Edith Cowan University in Perth received his Metrohm Australia Young Chemist Award for enhancing a glass free pH electrode based on RuO2.
Developing a selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor for the analysis of uric acid and ascorbic acid in milk
Pictured are Assoc. Prof. Gordon Miskelly, supervisor Prof. Paul Kilmartin, Mahsa Motshakeri and Carlo Chiara, National Sales Manager Metrohm
Ms Mahsa Motshakeri at the University of Auckland received her Metrohm New Zealand Young Chemist Award for developing a selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor for the analysis of uric acid and ascorbic acid in milk.
Please join us in congratulating the winners.
