Peter Gage, an internationally recognised pioneer of the use of ion channels as a treatment for viral diseases, died on August 13 after a long illness.

A professor of physiology at Australian National University's John Curtin School of Medical Research, Gage's research formed the basis of Canberra biotech company Biotron's (ASX:BIT) Virion project, an antiviral treatment nearing commercialisation for the treatment of a range of viruses including HIV and hepatitis C.