Background
Damian completed his PhD from Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University in 2020 under the supervision of Dr Michelle Boyle. His PhD project focused on profiling functional antibody response and complement pathogenesis in malaria.
In 2020, he joined the Stuart Lab at Seattle Children’s Research Institute to work on malaria vaccine and immunology projects. His work include utilizing systems immunology to profile vaccine-induced immune response and characterising malaria parasite-specific T cell response in malaria vaccine trials.
Damian returned to Australia in 2023 and re-joined the Boyle Lab to embark on projects involving mapping immune response to malaria in lymphoid organs and in clinical trial settings.
Positions
- 2023-Present: Research Officer, Burnet Institute
- 2020-2023: Postdoctoral Fellow, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
- 2016-2019: Research Assistant, Menzies School of Health Research
- 2013-2015: Site Laboratory Supervisor, Eijkman Institute, Eijkman-Oxford Clinical Research Unit
Qualifications
- 2016-2020: PhD (Award July 2020), Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University. Supervisor: Dr Michelle Boyle
- 2012-2013: Honours in Biology, Monash University
- 2009-2012: Bachelor of Medical Bioscience, Monash University
Awards
- 2019: Research Training Award, Australian Centre of Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination
- 2018: International Student Development Grant, Northern Territory Government
- 2017: Travel Award, International Conference of Research on Plasmodium vivax
- 2016: Menzies Enhanced Living Scholarship
- 2016: Charles Darwin University Postgraduate Scholarship
- 2015: Travel Award, US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Burnet publications
View 2 moreCCR7 Expression Distinguishes Functionally Distinct pTfh1 Subsets with Roles in Malaria-Specific Immunity
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Megan S. F. Soon et al
Plasmodium cynomolgi Infections Not Found in Microscopy-Diagnosed Malaria Cases across Sabah, Malaysia
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Lydia S. Murdiyarso et al
MAM 2024: Malaria in a changing world
Trends in Parasitology
Rhea J. Longley et al
Current projects
Host directed therapy to boost protective immunity to malaria
Understanding immune development in this unique clinical trial will help us develop approaches to boost protective immunity to malaria, leading to novel therapeutics.
Malaria Synergy Program
The program brings together experts to achieve the goals of malaria elimination in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
MASTER-MAP: modern acceleration strategies for eradication of malaria in the Asia Pacific
We're developing novel solutions and high-quality evidence to inform policies and practices that address the major barriers in malaria elimination.
