14 Million Connections. 14 Million Stories. Backing Australian Ambition.
More than 14 million connections link Australia to the world. They are built through family and heritage, through living, working and studying abroad, and through friendships, business relationships and loved ones around the globe.
Together, these connections form a powerful network of talent, knowledge, support and opportunity.
Behind every connection is a story. Dr Margaret Simonian's is one of courage, determination and a lifelong commitment to improving lives through science.
Born in Iraq to Armenian parents, Margaret arrived in Australia alone as a child during the Iraq War, beginning a new life in a country, culture and language she did not know.
Driven by a passion for medicine and research, she earned her doctorate in Advanced Medicine from the Australian School of Advanced Medicine at Macquarie University before embarking on a career that would take her to some of the world's leading research institutions.
Margaret served as a Research Scientist at Macquarie University before becoming a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Neurology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. For many years she has been associated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, contributing to both cutting-edge research and academic teaching.
Her work focuses on the use of proteomics, molecular biology and radioproteomics to improve the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases, including brain arteriovenous malformations, brain tumours, liver cancer and prostate cancer.
Margaret's pioneering research on brain arteriovenous malformations began at Macquarie University and continued at UCLA, becoming the first in the world to use proteomics to identify protein targets for vascular and molecular therapies following radiosurgery. The work has led to numerous publications and continues to contribute to advances in medicine today.
She has also helped advance international research into liver cancer and has been at the forefront of integrating proteomics with radiological imaging, helping establish the emerging field of radioproteomics. This work aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and support more personalised treatment options for cancer patients.
Throughout her career, Margaret has built collaborations across leading institutions including UCLA, the John Wayne Cancer Institute and the Scripps Research Institute. She serves on editorial boards for scientific journals, contributes to international conferences on precision medicine, lectures in chemistry and biochemistry, and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.
Yet despite her remarkable achievements, Margaret remains deeply connected to the values that shaped her journey.
"My story demonstrates the importance of resilience, courage and determination. Regardless of the obstacles you face, perseverance and hard work can help you achieve your goals."
Over the next 14 days, we'll be sharing the stories of 14 extraordinary Australians whose journeys reflect the very best of Australian ambition, resilience, generosity and global impact.
We're incredibly grateful to our community for supporting our mission.
When Australians back Australians, extraordinary things happen.
Go further together.