A modest miracle worker’s mission

HER research on malaria is a potential life saver and Clare Smith has another medical nasty in her sights.

Young Australian of the Year Finalist for 2014 , Dr Clare Smith from Tasmania at a morning tea hosted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott at Parliament House in Canberra.

HER breakthrough research on malaria is a potential life saver and now Tasmanian Clare Smith has another medical nasty in her sights.

The top researcher is working at the University of Massachusetts on finding treatments for another killer disease, ­tuberculosis, after discovering a new antimalarial drug.

Originally from Dromedary, near Bridgewater, Dr Smith last year was named Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year for her work at the Menzies Research Institute.

Dr Smith discovered that a drug previously used to treat fungal infections on people’s feet had potential uses in malaria treatments.

The drug removes an enzyme from the malaria parasite, which it steals from human red blood cells to survive. The 28-year-old’s discovery has been hailed internationally as a significant medical breakthrough.

She is now using a similar approach to look at tuberculosis, which involves figuring out what that pathogen depends on to survive in the human body.

Dr Smith has been nominated in the Pride of Australia Medal’s care and compassion category for her work to significantly improve the lives of those around her.

“It’s all a bit overwhelming really, we are just doing our jobs,” she told the Sunday Tasmanian from Massachusetts.

To nominate someone, visit the Pride of Australia Medal website.

Nominations close on July 29.

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