Thomas Martin (pathologist)

Thomas John "Jack" Martin is an Australian pathologist, emeritus professor of medicine, physician and academic at University of Melbourne,^[2][3] and researcher who, in 1987, by leading a former team of researchers at the same university, discovered a proteinaceous hormone called parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP).^[4][5] In September 2005, further research was conducted by the team of Dengshun Miao^[6] and David Goltzman at the Calcium Research Laboratory and Department of Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre, and others.^[6]

Thomas John Martin AO FRACP FRCPA FAA FRS[1]
Born	Thomas John "Jack" Martin (1937-01-24) January 24, 1937 (age 88)
Education	University of Melbourne[2][3] Degrees: Bachelor of Medicine (MB) (1960)[2] Bachelor of Surgery (BS) (1960)[2] Doctor of Medicine (MD) (1969)[2] Doctor of Science (DSc) (1979)[2]
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Known for	Discovery of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP)
Scientific career
Fields	Pathology Medicine Cell biology Osteology Endocrinology
Institutions	University of Sheffield (1960)[2] Saint Vincent's Institute (1961–1963)[2] Royal Melbourne Hospital (1964, 1967–1968)[2] Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1964–1969)[2] Royal Postgraduate Medical School (1965-1966)[2] Austin Hospital, Heidelberg (1969–1974)[2] University of Sheffield (1974–1977)[2]

Martin is a member of Natalie A. Sims' laboratory^[7] at Saint Vincent's Institute of Medical Research.^[8] He works in the institute's Division of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, and his primary interest is cell biology of bones.^[9]

Research career

Martin was the director of St Vincent's Institute from 1988 to 2002.^[10] In September 2005, Martin found that PTHrP produced by osteoblasts is a physiological regulator of bone formation.^[11]

In July 2022, Martin and his team at Natalie A. Sims' lab, after much research on mice, found that deletion of the gene that codes for a receptor protein called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSF) increases physiological dysfunction of cortical bones of mice having hyperactivated STAT3 proteins in their bone cells.^[12] Cortical bone maturation depends on SOCS3-mediated suppression of interleukin-6 cytokine-induced STAT3 phosphorylation in bone cells, which form the cellular network embedded in bone matrix. They concluded that G-CSFR signaling could indirectly limit bone resorption and angiogenesis, and thereby has a major role in replacing condensed trabecular bone with lamellar bone during cortical bone formation.^[12]

Awards and honours

Year	Award
1969	Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP)[2]
1971	Selwyn Smith Prize for medical research[2]
1974	Eric Susman Prize received from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians[2]
1990	Lemberg Medal received from the Australian Biochemical Society[2]
1992	Honorary Doctor of Medicine (MD(Hon)) received from the University of Sheffield[2] Dale Medal received from the British Society for Endocrinology[2]

• In August 2022, an award "TJ Martin Medal" was named in Martin's honour.^[10] The medal was awarded to gastroenterologist Chamara Basnayake at St Vincent's Hospital for his research into the multidisciplinary treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders.^[10]