Dr Nicholas M Gough is distinguished for his contributions to molecular biology in particular with respect to his helping to "crack" the important problem of the genetic basis of antibody diversity; and for his cloning of GM-CSF and several other important bone marrow cell growth regulatory molecules.

In his present position as Research Director of the AMRAD Corporation, he has greatly extended the scope of that firm's research endeavour, both within his own field of growth factors and in the exciting field of searching for pharmaceuticals from Australia's diverse biota, including marine species.