Centre for Pathogen Genomics

Professor Ben Howden

Professor Ben Howden is a medical microbiologist, infectious diseases physician and molecular biologist. He is Director of the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory (MDU PHL), Medical Director of Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics and a Laboratory Head in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne. Professor Howden has an extensive program of work in capacity building and training in laboratory diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases as well as clinical and public health research, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance and bacterial pathogenesis, evolution and host-pathogen interactions.

Professor Deborah Williamson

Professor Deborah Williamson is a clinical and public health microbiologist. She is Director of the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Doherty Institute, and Laboratory Head in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Melbourne. Professor Williamson is involved in the delivery of specialist public health laboratory services, and in the diagnosis and surveillance of communicable diseases. Her research interests include the molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of infections caused by antimicrobial resistant pathogens, and the translation of genomic technologies to questions of public health importance.

Professor Tim Stinear

Professor Tim Stinear is a molecular microbiologist and research-teaching academic. He is Deputy Head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne, Scientific Director of Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics and a NHMRC Leadership Fellow. Professor Stinear completed a PhD in Microbiology at Monash University in 2001, followed by a three-year postdoctoral period at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. His laboratory uses innovative genomic approaches to understand how bacterial pathogens including mycobacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci evolve, spread and cause disease.

Dr Michelle Wille

Dr Michelle Wille is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne. Her primary research focus is the dynamics of wild bird viruses: the ecology and evolution of influenza A viruses in waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds, which utilise a range of migratory strategies to disseminate viruses. She is currently working on the dynamics of avian influenza in in Australia and Antarctica through detection, isolation and characterisation of viruses, but also using serology. Beyond influenza A, she is starting to assess viromes in wild birds, with a particular interest in ecological drivers of observed patterns.

Dr Lisa Ioannidis

Dr Lisa Ioannidis is the Coordinator of the Centre. She is responsible for the development and implementation of the Centre’s program of work, including collaborative research projects and capacity building and training activities across the Asia Pacific region. Dr Ioannidis has a background in laboratory research, with a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Melbourne and 10 years of postdoctoral experience in infectious diseases research at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the ability of microorganisms to resist being killed by medicines such as antibiotics, poses a major and rapidly growing threat to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Understanding the nature and extent of AMR is key to tackling this major health problem.

One Health

One Health is a collaborative, cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach that recognises that the health of humans, animals and their shared environment are closely linked. This approach underpins each of the Centre’s key scientific themes.

Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Response

Pathogen genomics is a powerful technology that can be used to enhance infectious disease surveillance, outbreak detection and infection prevention and control, and to inform the public health response to endemic and emerging infectious diseases.

Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Building capacity to rapidly respond to the complex scientific, community and government needs posed by persistent or emerging infectious disease threats.