QIMR Berghofer is proud to announce Cancer Aetiology & Prevention Senior Group Leader Professor Rachel Neale has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, one of the highest honours in the Australian health and medical research community.
Professor Neale is one of 29 outstanding researchers from across the country recognised in the Academy’s 2025 cohort of new Fellows. The honour acknowledges her exceptional contributions to epidemiology, particularly her ground-breaking research into vitamin D, cancer and public health.
As a senior researcher at QIMR Berghofer, Professor Neale has led large-scale studies that have reshaped global understanding of the role of vitamin D in disease prevention and management. Her work has directly informed clinical practice guidelines and public health strategies, influencing how vitamin D supplementation is approached in Australia and internationally.
Her research has also extended into cancer epidemiology, where she has investigated risk factors and prevention strategies for pancreatic cancer and other malignancies. Through her leadership and collaboration, Professor Neale has helped bridge the gap between research and real-world health outcomes, ensuring that scientific discoveries translate into better care and prevention.
“I am incredibly proud and humbled to be joining such extraordinary scientists as a Fellow of the AAHMS,” Professor Neale said.
“My goal is to use this honour to increase my impact on the health of the community.”
QIMR Berghofer Director and CEO Professor Fabienne Mackay congratulated Professor Neale on the prestigious recognition.
“Rachel’s election to AAHMS is a well-deserved honour that highlights the global impact of her work,” Professor Mackay said.
“Her research has not only advanced scientific understanding but has also changed how we approach prevention and public health. We are incredibly proud to have her as part of our Institute.”
Academy President Professor Louise Baur AM PresAHMS said the new Fellows represented the very best of the health and medical sciences in Australia.
“Our new Fellows are improving lives — from tackling global health challenges and pioneering new treatments, to shaping policy and advancing the frontiers of biomedical discovery,” Professor Baur said.
“Their work exemplifies the Academy’s mission to advance health and medical research, promote evidence-informed policy, and foster trust in science.”
Professor Neale joins a community of more than 500 Fellows who are shaping the future of health and medicine in Australia and beyond.
The new Fellows were formally inducted at the Academy’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Gala Dinner in Canberra this week.