Professor Ian Wicks is Head of the Rheumatology Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Head of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s Inflammation Division. His Research on inflammatory diseases enabled him to identify several cytokine receptors as novel therapeutic targets. He led collaborations to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against these targets. One of these has completed successful Phase 2 Trials for rheumatoid arthritis and two others are poised for evaluation in other inflammatory diseases. His contribution extends to leadership roles in Rheumatology, teaching, training and clinical research. He serves on the NHMRC Translational Research Faculty and peer-reviews at national and international levels.