News

Professor Margarita Moreno-Betancur, from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), has been awarded the prestigious Moran Medal by the Australian Academy of Science. This accolade recognizes her exceptional contributions to the field of biostatistics, particularly in the context of long-term health research.

Professor Moreno-Betancur, who co-directs the Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (CEBU) at MCRI and the University of Melbourne, has been instrumental in developing robust statistical methods that enhance the analysis of complex health data. Her work is pivotal in ensuring that longitudinal research projects - such as the MCRI-led Generation Victoria (GenV) study, which tracks the health and wellbeing of over 100,000 Victorians from birth to adulthood.

In her acceptance speech, Margarita emphasized the importance of biostatistics in modern health research. “Our ability to understand and improve health outcomes relies heavily on the accurate analysis of large, complex datasets,” she said. “This medal not only honors my work but also highlights the critical role of biostatistics in addressing key health questions.”

Her innovative methods help mitigate bias and manage incomplete data, ensuring more reliable results in health studies. Within ViCBiostat, Margarita leads the causal inference research group, and co-leads the missing data research group. You can see more of her research on our Research page. Congratulations again Margarita on this award recognising your substantial contributions to the field.