Snow Medical Investment Exceeds $50 Million With Three New Snow Fellowships

The Snow Medical Research Foundation today announced three new Snow Fellowships of $8 million each to three young outstanding biomedical research leaders. This $24 million investment brings Snow Medical’s biomedical research funding to $53 million over the last 2 years.

Snow Fellowships, awarded annually, are the biggest philanthropic investment in emerging biomedical research leaders in Australia, and represent a long-term vision of backing Australia’s brightest young researchers. The funding is used to develop world-leading teams based in Australia’s best research organisations.

“Snow Medical backs the boldest and best of the next generation of researchers. We set out to find exceptional visionary leaders, and our three 2021 Snow Fellows are truly outstanding,” Snow Medical Chair Tom Snow said.

“These three high achievers are young, early-to-mid-career scientists who have already built

exceptional, high impact multidisciplinary programs and teams, and we are very proud to be a part of their journey. They are amongst the best in their field, worldwide.

“The Snow Fellowships will accelerate their programs, for the benefit of their institutions, the research sector and society through ongoing contributions to science and health, leadership and community.”

“I’m also pleased to see a majority of women in our group this year, as we have an unwavering commitment to equity and diversity in our program.

The three Snow Fellows are:

 Dr Melanie Eckersley Maslin: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

o Program title: Epigenetic plasticity in development and cancer

 Associate Prof. Marina Pajic: Garvan institute of Medical Research, Sydney

o Program Title: Precision Oncology for Pancreatic Cancer Research Program

 Dr Shom Goel: The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

o Program Title: Understanding and targeting therapy-induced senescence in cancer

Snow Medical Founder, Terry Snow, was impressed with the high calibre of fellows who applied in 2021.

“I’m particularly pleased that our fellows have demonstrated a strong commitment to generous leadership; mentoring other scientists in their teams, as well as their institutions, and collaborators,” Terry Snow said.

“I have always had a commitment to excellence in everything I do. I wanted to back the best talent. The Fellows are an absolute demonstration of excellence.

“Each Fellow is based in an outstanding research organisations with a strong commitment to a culture of excellence, where they are supported by some of the best infrastructure and professional development programs available for them and their teams.”

Fellowship funding is available to set up and operate a research laboratory and will provide salaries for the Snow Fellow and post-doctoral researchers, PhD student scholarship top-ups, technical and laboratory management support, project funds and leadership development.

The appointment of the three Snow Fellows in 2021 brings the total number of Snow Fellowship to six and Snow Medical is looking to appoint a further two Snow Fellows in 2022. About Snow Medical Research Foundation

The Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) is the creation of Canberra’s Snow family and is a vision of businessman and philanthropist, Terry Snow and his wife Ginette. Snow Medical’s pivotal program, the Snow Fellowships, targets emerging global research leaders that show the potential to drive, manage and influence the next generation of health and medical innovation.

The eight-year Snow Fellowship, funded at up to $1 million per year, provides outstanding biomedical researchers the independence to focus on building ambitious multidisciplinary research programs and teams capable of changing the face of healthcare in Australia and globally.

In 2020, three inaugural Snow Fellowships were awarded. Snow Medical has also provided $5.5 million for COVID-19 research and has supported the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance to develop new strategic approaches to solve cardiovascular disease.