In the Media: Highlights from Immunology & Microbiology
Our experts from the Dept of Microbiology & Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute have been at the forefront of breakthrough research, media commentary and COVID-19. Here are some of the latest highlights.
DMI media highlights - October 2023
- Dr Kevin John Selva (first author) and A/Prof Amy Chung (co-senior author) contributed to world-first research published in JCI Insight and Immunology & Cell Biology that examined how antibodies in saliva and tears work together to protect against infections and regulate the immune system. Read More.
- A/Prof Torsten Seemann and Tuyet Hoang hosted two workshops on optimal funding models in Australia and the future of global data sharing for pathogen genomics, as part of the AusPathoGen symposium at the State Library of Victoria. Read More.
- Prof Kanta Subbarao was interviewed by CNN, STATnews and Financial Assets about the recommended removal of a component of many flu vaccines by the World Health Organisation. A family of viruses known as influenza B/Yamagata appear to be driven into extinction in the Covid-19 pandemic and has not been seen since March 2020.
- Dr Carolien van de Sandt and Prof Katherine Kedzierska’s research on flu-specific T cell evolution over the human lifespan received media coverage from The Guardian, Cosmos, Medical Forum, LabRoots, ABP Live and Lab+Life Scientist.
- Dr Daniel Utzschneider has been awarded an Investigator Research Grant from the Leukemia Research Foundation (US) for his research project titled “Identifying and targeting regulators of T cell exhaustion to promote leukemia control”. Read More.
- Prof Christopher McDevitt is leading the research awarded more than AUD$2.6 million from global non-profit CARB-X, to develop a world-first treatment for antibiotic-resistant community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). Read More.
Media Coverage includes BioWorld, University of Minnesota and Drug Discovery Online.
- A study published by JCI Insight authored by Prof Stephen Kent (senior author) highlights an antibody-based therapy trial shows promise in patients with influenza B. Read More.
- Carolien van de Sandt was interviewed on 3RRR FM radio program Einstein A Go Go about the Young Tall Poppy Awards. Listen to the podcast.
- Dr Matthew Gartner, first author of a study published in Med explained that there are two ways SARS-VoV-2 can enter the cells to infect them. Read More.
- Prof Laura Mackay has been named among six finalists for the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) Rising Start Award. Read More.
- Dr Daniel Utzschneider has been awarded a CSL Centenary Fellowship worth $1.25 million for his research aiming to improve responses against cancer. Read More.
Media Coverage includes Lab+Life Scientist.
- The Observer Voice wrote an article on the life and career of Prof Peter Doherty titled Unmasking a Legend: The Story of Peter Doherty.
- Prof Lachlan Coin was interviewed by the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun about his research developing a diagnostic blood test for potentially deadly viruses.
- Prof Laura Mackay has been awarded the inaugural Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) Rising Start Award for her pioneering work in immunology. Read More.
- Research Fellow Stefano Giulieri, first author of a study published in Cell Reports was interviewed by Lab+Life Scientist about the new genetic insights uncovered into Staphylococcus aureus.
- Dr Michelle Wille was part of a HKUMED research team published in Nature, that identified major shifts in the ecology and evolution of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses.
- Prof Roy Robins-Browne was one of seven global experts providing his opinion on the future of effective antibiotics for The Conversation.
- Prof Lachlan Coin is the laboratory head for the game-changing research in using molecular clues to pinpoint the cause of illness in paediatric healthcare. Read More
- Dr Ash Porter's published a paper on 'The importance of utilizing travel history metadata for informative phylogeographical inferences: a case study of early SARS-CoV-2 introductions into Australia' first published in the Microbiology Society. Read More