Dr Hayley Bullen
Co-Head Malaria Virulence, Drug Discovery and Resistance
Working groups
Background
After completing her Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree in 2006, Hayley went on to pursue her Honours and PhD degrees in the laboratory of Professor Brendan Crabb and Associate Professor Paul Gilson at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and later at the Burnet Institute. Her work centred on deciphering the roles of novel membrane protein complexes in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, specifically the export machinery termed PTEX.
After completing her PhD studies, Hayley moved to the laboratory of Professor Dominique Soldati-Favre at the University of Geneva, Switzerland where she continued her research on model Apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Here she deciphered the signalling mechanisms underpinning a key step in the invasion process of T. gondii.
In late 2015 Hayley moved back to the Burnet Institute in the laboratory of Professor Brendan Crabb and Associate Professor Paul Gilson, whereupon she initiated antimalarial mechanism of action and resistance studies, and investigations into novel aspect of malaria protein export.
Qualifications
- 2012: PhD in parasitology (Plasmodium falciparum) Burnet Institute and WEHI, Victoria, Australia.
- 2015: Masters in Public Health, The University of Newcastle
- 2007: Bachelor of Science (Honours), WEHI
- 2006: Bachelor of Biomedical Science, The University of Melbourne
Awards
- 2021/2022: Burnet Institute Shark Tank funding
- 2021: FREDA funding
- 2021: Margaret Harrison Parental Leave Grant
- 2020: Beever Fellowship
- 2020: NHMRC Ideas grant–Discovering how a novel anti-malarial drug series rapidly kills parasites
- 2019: Geoffrey Connard Travel Award
- 2015: Fondation Gertrude von Meissner award (not accepted)
- 2014: EMBO short term fellowship (not accepted)
- 2012: OzeMalAR travel fellowship
- 2011: Australian Society for Parasitology student travel award
- 2011: Miller foundation biomedical research travel award-Burnet Institute
- 2010: Victorian Infection and Immunity network student symposium best speaker award
- 2009: Australian Society for Parasitology student travel award
- 2008-2012: Australian Postgraduate Award-University of Melbourne
- 2007: Alan W. Harris Honors scholarship- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
- 2007: The University of Melbourne Honors scholarship
Burnet publications
View 27 moreA Pyridyl-Furan Series Developed from the Open Global Health Library Block Red Blood Cell Invasion and Protein Trafficking in Plasmodium falciparum through Potential Inhibition of the Parasite’s PI4KIIIB Enzyme
ACS Infectious Diseases
Dawson B. Ling et al
PTEX helps efficiently traffic haemoglobinases to the food vacuole in Plasmodium falciparum
PLoS Pathogens
Thorey K. Jonsdottir et al
Protein disulfide isomerases – a way to tackle malaria
Trends in Parasitology
Fiona Angrisano et al
Current projects
Discovering novel antimalarials to block parasite invasion of human cells
Drugs are the main weapons used to combat malaria infection. However, parasites are becoming resistant and new medicines and drug targets are needed.
Understanding how malaria parasites become resistant to drugs
This project aims to understand how novel mutations will affect malaria parasites from West Africa.
Past projects
Discovering novel antimalarials to block parasite virulence
Drugs are the main weapons used to combat malaria infection, but parasites are becoming resistant and new medicines and drug targets are needed.
Drug resistance and mechanism of action studies
We work with medicinal chemists to develop new antimalarials that are effective against already multi-drug resistant parasites.