The first Australian-born woman to win a Nobel Prize will deliver a public lecture on her ground-breaking science at the University on March 12.

Professor Blackburn won the Noble Prize for Medicine in 2009. She pioneered the study of telomeres (caps that protect chromosomes in cells), and co-discovered telomerase (an enzyme that helps build and stabilise chromosomes).

These discoveries and research have opened a new field of science, raising the prospects of medical breakthroughs such as interfering with cancerous cells.

In her lecture Professor Blackburn will explain how telomere length decreases during ageing, an effect that is slowed down by telomerase. Professor Blackburn will also elaborate on the importance of studying and understanding the mechanics of telomere action, given that most cancer cells have high telomerase activity.

Professor Blackburn's lecture is part of an Australian visit, which has included speaking to an audience of children at the national science and technology centre Questacon in Canberra.

At that event both she and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd twisted rope to demonstrate the make-up of DNA, and she also encouraged the children to daydream, saying it was important to have imagination in order to challenge what is possible.

Australia's 11th Nobel laureate, Professor Blackburn is a vocal advocate of independent scientific thought and challenged the US Bush administration over cloning and stem cells. She was dropped from the former US president's Council on Bioethics in 2004 after questioning its bias.

Born in Hobart Tasmania she is now based at the University of California, San Francisco and is also the president-elect of the American Association for Cancer Research.

The public lecture at the University of Sydney is hosted by the University of Sydney, the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists, the Human Genetics Society of Australasia and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.

Professor Blackburn will be welcomed by the University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence and the vote of thanks will be given by the University of Sydney Medical School Dean Professor Bruce Robinson.

Event details:

When: Friday March 12

Time: 4-5:30pm

Where: Eastern Avenue Auditorium, Eastern Avenue, The University of Sydney

Cost: Free

A limited number of seats are still available.

RSVP essential to: alumni.rsvp@sydney.edu.au

Booking enquires: 02 9036 9278

Media inquiries: Sarah Stock 0419 278 715, sarah.stock@sydney.edu.au

Source: The University Of Sydney http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=4583