An expert in respiratory health at The University of Western Australia has been awarded the Eric Susman Prize for work in the field of Pleural Medicine.

Professor Gary Lee, a consultant chest physician at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where he set up and directs Australia’s first centralised hospital pleural service, was the 2023 recipient of the award.

A world leader in pleural research, Professor Lee heads a translational research group at the Institute for Respiratory Health. His pleural program integrates clinical, lab and allied health research with his clinical service.

The highly cited researcher has led several high-profile investigative randomised trials, delivered about 400 invited lectures on pleural diseases in 32 countries, and trained more than 30 Clinical Fellows and PhD students.

Professor Lee was the recipient of the Research Medal of the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand (2021) and of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (2016).

He received the UWA Senior Research Award in 2023 and was the Cancer Council WA Researcher of the Year in 2019.

Professor Lee said he was honoured to receive the prize which would allow him to attend and present at congress in Sydney.

“This award recognises my contribution to research on the treatment of pleural medicine and science over the past 22 years,” Professor Lee said.

“My research has focused on the build-up of fluid in the chest, which affects more than 90,000 Australians a year most commonly caused by cancer, infection or heart failure.”

The Eric Susman Prize was made possible by a bequest of Eric Leo Susman, a Foundation Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

The prize is awarded annually to a Fellow of the College for the best contribution to the knowledge of any branch of internal medicine.