Thomas Martin

Research career

Martin was the director of St Vincent's Institute from 1988 to 2002.

In July 2022, Martin and his team at Natalie A. Sims' lab, after much research on mice, found that deletion of the gene that codes for a receptor protein called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSF) increases physiological dysfunction of cortical bones of mice having hyperactivated STAT3 proteins in their bone cells. Cortical bone maturation depends on SOCS3-mediated suppression of interleukin-6 cytokine-induced STAT3 phosphorylation in bone cells, which form the cellular network embedded in bone matrix. They concluded that G-CSFR signaling could indirectly limit bone resorption and angiogenesis, and thereby has a major role in replacing condensed trabecular bone with lamellar bone during cortical bone formation. The medal was awarded to gastroenterologist Chamara Basnayake at St Vincent's Hospital for his research into the multidisciplinary treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders.