Honours, Prizes and Awards

2003: Recipient of the Malaysian Liver Foundation Medal for Work on Viral Hepatitis.

The Malaysian Liver Foundation (MLF) is the only national voluntary, non-profit, charitable organisation in Malaysia dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of liver, gallbladder and pancreatic diseases through education, training and research.

2006-2010: Recipient of the Bristol-Myers-Squibb Freedom to Discover Award (US$100,000 per year, for 5 years).

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Freedom to Discover Program was established in 1977 and provides substantial means for research in six clinical fields, in which Bristol-Myers Squibb supports research programmes and introduces products into the market: Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, Infectious diseases, Metabolic diseases, Neurology/Psychiatry and Nutrition. The Freedom to Discover Programme reflects the corporate vision of a fruitful partnership between industrial and academic research. According to the company's philosophy of responsibility to society, unexpected observations from basic science must be given a chance for implementation/transformation/realisation. It is often the unexpected discoveries which are of greatest use to humankind. By means of the Bristol-Myers Squibb grant money, scientists are enabled to advance, independent of project plans, in areas which otherwise would be neglected. In each of the six clinical fields, one or two research institutions receives a grant of US$500,000.00 over a period of five years for the realisation of scientific projects. There are no restrictions whatsoever for utilisation of the funds.

Post Graduate Teaching Involvement

2003: Dr Joseph Torresi. “Studies on hepatitis E virus”. Department of Microbiology, University of Melbourne. PhD.
2003: Dr Ruth Chin. “Studies on HBV antiviral drug resistance”. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne. PhD.
2003: Dr Robert Chen. “Studies on HBeAg-negative hepatitis B”. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne. MD.
2004: Dr Alex Thompson. “Studies on the innate immune response and hepatitis B”. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne. PhD.
2004: Nadia Warner. “Molecular studies of antiviral drug resistant HBV”. Department of Microbiology, University of Melbourne. PhD.
2005: Dr David Iser. “Interactions between HIV and HBV”. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne. Co-supervisor PhD.
2006: Dr Chris Desmond. “Pathogenesis of HBV infection”. Department of Medicine, Monash University. Co-supervisor PhD.
2007: Dr Catherine Crough. “Studies on the natural history of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B”. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne. MD.
2008: Dr Tin Nguyen. “Immunopathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B: Innate immune responses”. Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne. MD.

Post-Doctoral Fellows

2005-now: Dr Peter Revill, post-doctoral fellow on NIH RO1 Grant #1. “HIV-HBV co-infection in the era of HAART”.
2006-2007: Dr Scott Preiss, post-doctoral fellow on a BMS Freedom to Discover Award.
2007-now: Dr Renae Walsh, post-doctoral fellow on NIH RO1 Grant #2. “Viral fitness and HBV drug resistance”.

Review Activities

Stephen Locarnini is a referee for the following Journals:

1. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy
2. Journal of Medical Virology
3. Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
4. Medical Journal of Australia
5. Hepatology
6. Journal of Hepatology
7. Antiviral Research
8. Gastroenterology
9. Journal of Viral Hepatitis
10. Journal of Virology
11. Journal of General Virology

Stephen Locarnini is on the Editorial Board of:

1. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy
2. Antiviral Research
3. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy
4. Hepatology International
5. Journal of Hepatology

Stephen Locarnini is the Hepatitis Virus Section Editor for Antiviral Therapy – Impact Factor 4.6

Funding Body Review

2003-now: Invited reviewer, NHMRC Project Grants.
2003-now: Invited reviewer, Welcome Trust Grants (typically one per year).
2003-now: Invited reviewer, Hong Kong Medical Research Council, HK SAR.
2003-now: Invited reviewer, Singapore National Medical Research Council, Singapore.
2003-now: Invited reviewer, New Zealand National Medical Research Council, New Zealand.

Professional Membership

1. American Society for Microbiology
2. Australian Medical Association (AMA)
3. Australian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM)
4. International Association for Antiviral Research
5. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
6. Australian Gastroenterology Society
7. European Association for the Study of Liver Disease (EASL)
8. The Royal College of Pathologists, London, UK
9. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
10. Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL)
11. International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research (ISICR)
12. National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR), UNSW 2003-2007 Member, Viral Hepatitis Working Group

Involvement with the wider community and the media

2003-now: part of the international initiative to promote advocacy for hepatitis B and the affected community. The instrument is known as “Advancing the Clinical Treatment of HBV” or “ACT-HBV” (www.act-hbv.com). Stephen is on the expert advisory group for the USA Region. He is the chairman of the Asia-Pacific Region (includes all countries in the region). He is also the chairman of the Australian-New Zealand Chapter. The terms of reference are focused on education and awareness. As chairman of ACT-HBV Asia-Pacific Stephen has helped raise >US$500,000 and for ACT-HBV Australia-New Zealand he has helped raise >AU$250,000 for these activities which are ongoing and active. In the Australian context, several public policy documents have been developed including: 1) Hepatitis B In Australia, 2) Economic Impact of HBV in Australia (document development in progress) and 3) Patient Needs Assessment.