It took 20 years for his research to lead to a successful world-first human clinical trial in Brisbane with his team demonstrating that transplanting therapeutic nasal cells into the spinal cord was safe.

Professor Mackay-Sim’s research leadership was celebrated when he was named Australian of the Year in 2017.

Throughout his research career, Professor Mackay-Sim made significant contributions to our understanding of the human brain and its functions. He was interested in the role of nasal cells and how they interacted with neurons to support brain function. His research helped shed light on the role of these cells in conditions such as damaged spinal cords, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia, Motor Neurone Disease and led to the development of new treatments for these conditions.