Alan Mackay-Sim

Alan Mackay-Sim AM (16 May 1951 – 4 January 2023) was an Australian biomedical scientist specialising in adult stem cell research, and winner of the 2017 Australian of the Year. Some of his research focused on olfactory ensheathing cells,[1] which are cells in the human nose that interact with the nervous system to cause a sense of smell.

Alan Mackay-Sim

AM
Mackay-Sim in 2017
Born(1951-05-16)16 May 1951
Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia
Died4 January 2023(2023-01-04) (aged 71)
NationalityAustralian
Alma materMacquarie University
AwardsAustralian of the Year (2017)
Scientific career
FieldsBiomedical science
InstitutionsGriffith University
ThesisOdorous communication by stressed rats (1978)

His research into stem cells contributed to the treatment of spinal cord injuries. The restoration of mobility to Darek Fidyka, a Polish paraplegic man, used research by Mackay-Sim.[2][3][4]

Academic and professional life

Mackay-Sim received his PhD from Macquarie University in 1980,[5] then subsequently studied at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Wyoming.[3]

Mackay-Sim was the director of the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research at Griffith University before his retirement in 2015.[6]

Personal life

Mackay-Sim was born on 16 May 1951.[7] He grew up in Roseville, New South Wales,[3] the third of four brothers.[8] He attended North Sydney Boys High School.[9]

Mackay-Sim was married, with two children.[8]

In 2015,[10] he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and was treated with stem cell transplant.[6][11][12]

Mackay-Sim retired in 2015, and lived in Currimundi, Queensland.[8] He died on 4 January 2023, at the age of 71.[13][14][15]

Awards

References
  1. Chehrehasa, Fatemeh; Ekberg, Jenny A. K.; Lineburg, Katie; Amaya, Daniel; Mackay-Sim, Alan; St. John, James A. (November 2011). "Two phases of replacement replenish the olfactory ensheathing cell population after injury in postnatal mice". Glia. 60 (2): 322–32. doi:10.1002/glia.22267. hdl:10072/45582. PMID 22065423. S2CID 7490951.
  2. "Champion for stem cell use named Australian of the Year". ABC News. 25 January 2017.
  3. Knott, Matthew (25 January 2017). "Scientist whose miracle made a paraplegic walk again named Australian of the Year". Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. "Australian of the Year is injury research pioneer Alan Mackay-Sim". BBC. 25 January 2017.
  5. "Curriculum vitae". Griffith University. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  6. "Australian of the Year winner: Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  7. "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 35, 382. New South Wales, Australia. 17 May 1951. p. 20. Retrieved 25 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. Susan Johnson (20 January 2017). "Professor Alan Mackay-Sim is dedicated to spreading the word on medical research". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  9. NSBHS Higher School Certificate 1969
  10. Emily Brooks (25 January 2017). "Meet The New Australian Of The Year: Professor Alan Mackay-Sim". Huffington Post. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  11. Stephanie Bedo (22 January 2017). "The remarkable scientist making new life connections". Griffith University. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  12. "Myeloma: I am ready to enjoy each day more". Leukaemia Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  13. Tributes for Coast-based researcher who paved the way for treatments of several conditions
  14. Dobson, Ben (4 January 2023). "Vale: Griffith farewells Alan Mackay-Sim, a titan of science". Griffith University. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  15. "Trailblazing 'titan' of science and former Australian of the Year Alan Mackay-Sims has died". ABC News. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  16. "Queen's Birthday 2021 Honours – the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  17. "Professor Alan Mackay-Sim". It's An Honour. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
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