Professor Chris Goodnow is one of Australia’s top scientists, and as the newly appointed Executive Director of the Garvan Institute, he is also the leader of one of the country’s most important medical research facilities.
In our discussion with Professor Goodnow, he explains the importance of scientific research, but also highlights the value of scientists being bold and being afforded the space to make mistakes.
Without space, science never makes giant leaps forward so leaps of faith are vital if we are to increase our scientific understanding. More often than not, it’s through the generosity of philanthropists that medical researchers are afforded this space.
As an expert in genomics and immunology, Professor Goodnow speaks about the future potential of mapping an individual’s DNA sequence. In his opinion, it’s “the most powerful blood test ever invented in human history”. It’s also a blueprint for understanding a person’s genome and immune system and the framework that the future of health care will be built upon.