PNGIMR is saddened to announce that Prof Michael Alpers, the second and longest serving Director of PNGIMR, closed his eyes peacefully on the 3rd of December at a hospital in Perth, Western Australia at age 90 after a long illness. Prof Alpers served as the Director from 1977 to 2000, accomplishing much of the foundation work that the institute continues working on to this day. His initial work in PNG, which began in 1961, was on Kuru, a disease that only affected people in the Okapa District of Eastern Highlands Province. With his colleague Carlton Gajdusek, Prof Alpers’s work led to breakthroughs in understanding neurodegenerative diseases. When he became director, he insisted that the institute’s research be of practical significance for Papua New Guinea and was instrumental in building the malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, lymphatic filariasis and other infectious diseases work that has resulted in many health benefits.
Prof Alpers was a very caring man. He mentored many PNG researchers and to this day is paying school fees for many children. Only his loving partner and collaborator, Deborah Lehmann, will know the extent of his kindness to generations of Papua New Guineans.
Prof Alpers was life member of the PNG Medical Society and Editor, then Emeritus Editor of PNG Medical Journal until his passing. His guidance and efforts enabled the journal to maintain an international standing. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, Australian Academy of Science and Third World Academy of Science. He was appointed Officer of Order of Australia and in 2008 was awarded Companion of the Papua New Guinean Star of Melanesia (CSM).
Prof Alpers is survived by his partner Prof Deborah Lehmann, his 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
To honour Prof Alpers, IMR closed for business on Wednesday 4th December to allow staff to reflect on his passing and his contribution to PNGIMR, the Medical Society and PNG.
May he rest in loving eternal peace.
William Pomat
Director PNGIMR
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