13th April 2010

Menzies School of Health Researcher Jana Lai has received the NT Young Achiever Award, in Power and Water’s science and engineering category.

The award honours young scientists and engineers between 14 and 26 years of age for their visionary achievements, with the winner receiving a trophy and $2,000.

The Darwin schooled Research Assistant said that she hoped the award would show other young Territorians that they can achieve their goals and aspirations.

“This award highlights what young Territorians can achieve. I hope that it helps others think about what they can do to make a difference.” Jana Lai said.

Miss Lai was selected from a pool of 210 candidates, for her work in developing a molecular diagnostic for identifying two key bacterial pathogens in childhood pneumonia.

The research was part of Miss Lai’s Bachelor of Science Honours project through Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University.

“Pneumonia is the number one killer of children around the world.” Jana Lai said.

“It kills two million children a year, so it actually kills more children every year than HIV, Malaria and TB combined.”

Finding ways to diagnose pneumonia early has huge implications for child health outcomes in the Northern Territory and around the world.

“The methods that we are trying to develop here could have wider impacts globally, particularly in light of the World Health Organisation’s ‘Millennium Development Goal Four’, which aims to reduce child mortality around the globe by up to two thirds by 2015”.

Miss Lai is now working to apply her knowledge in China.

An initial scoping trip has taken place, identifying the Sichuan province, devastated by powerful earthquakes in 2008, as a possible research site.

“China is a big country and there are a lot of important ties, not just economically but also for research. Hopefully this project will open up a lot of ties between Menzies School of Health Research and research institutes in China.” Jana Lai said.

Miss Lai will travel to China next year.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact: Victoria Close, Communications Officer Ph: (08) 8943 5039.