24 November 2011
HRC Beaven Medal presented to chronic Hepatitis B virus infection researcher
The HRC Beaven Medal for excellence in translational research[1] has been presented to Professor Edward Gane, a Consultant Hepatologist in the Liver Unit at Auckland City Hospital. His
research will investigate whether better surveillance can prevent liver cancer and death in Māori with chronic hepatitis
B virus (HBV) infection.
HRC Chief Executive, Dr Robin Olds, presented Professor Gane with the Beaven Medal at the Auckland District Health
Board’s Healthcare Excellence Awards on Thursday 24 November 2011. Dr Olds said he was “pleased to present the Beaven
Medal to Professor Gane in recognition of his innovative research, which will make a significant contribution towards
translational health research in New Zealand.”
The Beaven Medal, named after the late Professor Sir Donald Ward Beaven, KNZM, CBE (1924–2009), recognises Sir Don’s
long time interest in translating research into clinical practice and is awarded annually by the HRC.
“The HRC’s Beaven Medal is a way of ensuring that Sir Don’s life and association with translational medical research is
remembered,” said Dr Olds.
“Professor Gane’s research will contribute to an outcome of improved health service delivery for patients infected with
hepatitis B virus,” says Dr Olds.
Professor Gane’s research will investigate what has happened to people, mainly Māori, found to be infected with HBV 27
years ago, and in particular, whether there is chronic hepatitis, severe liver scarring (cirrhosis), or liver cancer.
His aim is to determine how ongoing surveillance to prevent liver disease in those with HBV can be improved.
Professor Gane’s grant depended on key collaborations between the Auckland District Health Board, Massey University and
The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand. Professor Gane and co-investigator Professor Chris Cunningham (Massey
University, Wellington) sit on the Foundation Board, and co-investigator Dr Chris Moyes (Bay of Plenty District Health
Board) is the Foundation’s Medical Director. The investigators will be active to engage with and obtain information
about their health status from over 500 people identified as carrying the virus in the original community survey (the
Kawerau study) 27 years ago.
By using new molecular techniques to analyse the virus DNA from the original blood samples in 1984, this study should
identify specific serum markers which can reliably predict the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer, later in life.
The current Hepatitis Foundation National HBV Surveillance Programme will be modified accordingly in order to improve
early detection and management of these “high-risk” individuals.
“The information gained from this study will enable physicians to predict who with HBV is at greater risk of developing
liver disease, and for the Hepatitis Foundation to refine its surveillance programme for such patients,” Professor Gane
says. He is confident that this will be achieved within five years.
“Professor Sir Donald Beaven had a great interest in medical education and medical research. His passion for learning
will continue to be an inspiration for many health researchers in New Zealand and I hope that it will inspire many of
our HRC-funded researchers to follow in Sir Don’s footsteps,” said Dr Olds.
About Professor Sir Donald Ward Beaven, KNZM, CBE
(31 August 1924 - 4 November 2009)
Professor Sir Donald Ward Beaven tragically died while fighting a fire at his bach in Little Akaroa on Banks Peninsula
on Wednesday 4 November 2009.
Sir Don was an internationally respected teacher and medical researcher. He was a pioneer in many major developments in
diabetes treatment and prevention, and in many initiatives in public health.
Born in Christchurch and educated at Christ’s College, Professor Beaven studied medicine at the University of Otago, and
had held medical appointments and fellowships all over the world.
He was a foundation member of Diabetes Christchurch, the first society in New Zealand for people with diabetes. He
commenced full-time teaching and research at the Christchurch School of Medicine in 1960, and was appointed Foundation
Professor in 1971. The Beaven Lecture Theatre at the School bears his name. Professor Beaven was made a Commander of the
British Empire in 1988 for “services to Medicine and the community”, and a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand
Order of Merit in the 2005 New Year Honours for “services to persons with diabetes”. He accepted a knighthood in August
2009 after the restoration of the former honours system.
In March 2009, Professor Beaven was commemorated as one of the Canterbury Local Heroes – a set of twelve bronze busts of
important local figures - and a bronze bust of him was unveiled outside the Christchurch Arts Centre.
Professor Beaven was also a pioneer of Canterbury’s wine and olive industries. A memorial service for Professor Beaven
held in the Christchurch Town Hall on 19 December 2009 was attended by nearly 1,000 people.
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[1] In the field of medicine, translational research is used to turn the findings of basic research more quickly and
efficiently into medical practice.