John E. J. Rasko AO (born 1961) is an Australian clinical hematologist, pathologist and scientist whose research focuses on gene and stem cell therapy, experimental haematology and molecular biology. He directs the Department of Cell and Molecular Therapies at

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (abbreviated RPAH or RPA) is a major public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Missenden Road in Camperdown. It is a teaching hospital of the Central Clinical School of the Sydney Medical School ...

, heads the Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program at the Centenary Institute, Sydney, and is Professor of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, the University of Sydney. He is a science communicator, often interviewed on Australian radio and television, and is a regular contributor to Breakfast, Radio National, ABC. Rasko delivered the ABC's 2018

Boyer Lectures The Boyer Lectures are a series of talks by prominent Australians, presenting ideas on major social, scientific or cultural issues, and broadcast on ABC Radio National. The Boyer Lectures began in 1959 as the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commis ...

. Entitled ''Life Re-engineered'', they examined the history and impact of gene and cell therapies. Rasko is Chair of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC), Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (2008–), and Chaired the Advisory Committee on Biologicals,

Therapeutic Goods Administration The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is the medicine and therapeutic regulatory agency of the Australian Government. As part of the Department of Health and Aged Care, the TGA regulates the quality, supply and advertising of medicines, pa ...

(2012–15). Contributions to scientific organisations include co-founder (2000) and past-President (2003–05) of the Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society (AGCTS); Vice President (2008–12), and President (2018–20), International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT), and founder (2009) of ISCT-Australia. He is a founding board member of the Cure the Future Foundation. He is the Patron of Science for the FSHD Global Research Foundation, committed to the treatment and cure of

facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a type of muscular dystrophy, a group of heritable diseases that cause degeneration of muscle and progressive weakness. Per the name, FSHD tends to sequentially weaken the muscles of the face, ...

. In 2009, he was instrumental in establishing the first Faculty Committee of the Faculty of Science,

Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, more commonly known by its acronym RCPA is a medical organization that promotes the science and practice of pathology. The RCPA is a leading organisation representing pathologists and other sen ...

, and was a founding Fellow of the

Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences is an academy to promote health and medical sciences in Australia. It was established in June 2014. It cites "The Academy will serve the three purposes identified as of high priority in the 20 ...

. He is the recipient of national and international awards in recognition of his medical research, including appointment as an Officer of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

. His 2021 book, ''Flesh Made New: The Unnatural History and Broken Promise of Stem Cells'', co-authored by Carl Power, was longlisted for that year's Walkley Book Award.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rasko, John E. J. Australian haematologists Australian pathologists Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Academic staff of the University of Sydney Fellows of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Officers of the Order of Australia 1961 births Living people