Head
Associate Professor Rosemary Ffrench, BSc(Hons), PhD,
Staff
Senior Research Assistant
Jacqueline Flynn, BSc(Hons), MBiotech
Students
PhD Student: Kylie Goy, BSc(Hons)
Research Overview
The aim of the Viral Immunology Group is to gain a clearer understanding of the nature of cellular immune responses to viral infections to aid in the development of new vaccines and Immunotherapies. In addition we are assessing the immunogenicity of candidate vaccines in animal models and optimising and validating assays of immunogenicity for human clinical trials.
Research Objectives
• To determine the correlates of immune protection in HCV
• To understand how cellular immune responses may be targeted by vaccines
• To understand immunity to influenza virus in humans
• To assess the immunogenicity of candidate vaccines
• To help progress novel vaccines into human clinical trials
Research Highlights
• Characterised immune responses in individuals with acute HCV infection (Australian Trial in Acute HCV)
• Demonstrated heterotypic immunity to avian influenza in humans infected or vaccinated with human influenza
• Tested immunogenicity and dendritic cell uptake of novel virus-like particle vaccines