His research into weight management, obesity and diabetes has led to significant medical breakthroughs and drug design. He has been awarded one of the nation's top research honours., the prestigious Commonwealth Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year. This prize is awarded to an internationally-renowned scientist who has completed whose research has the potential to advance human welfare or society. Professor Cowley is from the Department of Physiology at Monash University and has a significant track record in biotechnology drug discovery.