Peter Colman has made outstanding contributions to our knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of antibodies and of virus antigens. His elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of the influenza virus enzyme and antigen, neuraminidase has had a major impact on our understanding of the epidemiology of influenza and has received world-wide recognition. His contribution has been recognized by the inaugural award by the Academy of the Frederick White Prize (1984), a CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement (1985) and the Royal Society of Victoria medal (1986). His study demonstrated that the active site of the enzyme is invariant in all known strains of influenza virus and has laid the basis for novel approaches to the design of new drugs against influenza.