Michael Philip Alpers was an Australian medical researcher, former long-term Director of the PNG Institute of Medical Research and John Curtin distinguished Professor of International Health, at Curtin University. He died at the age of 90 on 3 December 2024 in Perth, WA.^[1][2]

Alpers graduated from University of Adelaide with a B.Sc. and M.B.B.S. and from University of Cambridge with an M.A.

After graduating, he commenced a career, ultimately resulting in investigating kuru, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.^[3][4][5]

He is Honorary Senior Research Associate University College London.^[6]

Alpers and his work are the main theme of Kuru: The Science and the Sorcery (2010).^{[citation needed]} He is interviewed in The Genius And The Boys (2009).^{[citation needed]}

• Spark, Ceridwen (2012). "Michael Alpers (FRS), Kuru, and Papua New Guinea: The Combined Allure of Problem, People, and Place". Health and History. 14 (2): 26. doi:10.5401/healthhist.14.2.0026. S2CID 142113962.
• Australian Academy of Science. "Featured Fellow—Michael Alpers: Papua New Guinea and Mad Cows". www.science.org.au. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
• Bradley, Hazel (7 October 2020). "Top honour for kuru 'guru'". The Senior. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
• Royal Society. "Michael Alpers - Professor Michael Alpers AO FRS". royalsociety.org. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
• Chandler, Jo (12 May 2016). "The man who linked kuru to cannibalism - A chat with intrepid biologist Michael Alpers". Cosmos Magazine. Retrieved 17 April 2021.