Background

Dr Center is a molecular virologist whose interests include characterising the structure and function of viral proteins and using this knowledge to inform vaccine design.

He completed his PhD in 1998 and was awarded an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship to undertake training at the National Institutes of Health, USA in the Laboratory of Viral Diseases where he studied the structure of the key HIV protein, Env.

Upon his return to Australia he held a position at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, and was awarded a NHMRC Career Development Award to further his studies on the HIV Env protein.

He joined Burnet Institute in 2014 where his current focus is the development of preventative vaccines against hepatitis C and HIV.

Appointments

• Burnet Institute Senior Fellow
• Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

Positions

• 2003-2013: Senior Research Officer, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne
• 1998-2003: C.J. Martin Postdoctoral Fellow and NIG Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow at the Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH

Qualifications

• 1998: PhD, University of Melbourne, Australia
• 1988: BSc (Hons), La Trobe University, Australia

Awards

• 2005-2009: NHMRC R.D Wright Biomedical Career Development Award
• 2000-2003: National Institutes of Health (USA) Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowship
• 1998-2000: NHMRC C.J. Martin Fellowship
• 1994-1997: Commonwealth AIDS Research PhD Scholarship

Projects (2)

Current (2)

• 

  Development of a universal prophylactic vaccine for Hepatitis C

• 

  HepSeeVax: Proof-of-concept study of an HCV vaccine candidate

Publications (61)

2022 (2)

• A pan-genotype hepatitis C virus viral vector vaccine generates T-cells and neutralizing antibodies in mice.
  Donnison T, McGregor J, Chinnakannan S, Hutchings C, Center RJ, Poumbourios P, Klenerman P, Drummer HE, Barnes E
  Hepatology. 2022 Mar; Epub ahead of print
• Virus-Like Particles Containing the E2 Core Domain of Hepatitis C Virus Generate Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies in Guinea Pigs.
  McGregor J, Hardy JM, Lay CS, Boo I, Piontek M, Suckow M, Coulibaly F, Poumbourios P, Center RJ, Drummer HE
  J Virol. 2022 Mar; 96(5): e01675-21

2021 (3)

• A point-of-care lateral flow assay for neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
  Fulford TS, Van H, Gherardin NA, Zheng S, Ciula M, Drummer HE, Redmond S, Tan HX, Boo I, Center RJ, Li F, Grimley SL, Wines BD, Nguyen THO, Mordant FL, Ellenberg P, Rowntree LC, Kedzierski L, Cheng AC, Doolan DL, Matthews G, Bond K, Hogarth PM, McQuilten Z, Subbarao K, Kedzierska K, Juno JA, Wheatley AK, Kent SJ, Williamson DA, Purcell DFJ, Anderson DA, Godfrey DI
  EBioMedicine. 2021 Dec; 74:103729
• Mechanisms and targets of Fcgamma-receptor mediated immunity to malaria sporozoites.
  Feng G, Wines BD, Kurtovic L, Chan JA, Boeuf P, Mollard V, Cozijnsen A, Drew DR, Center RJ, Marshall DL, Chishimba S, McFadden GI, Dent AE, Chelimo K, Boyle MJ, Kazura JW, Hogarth PM, Beeson JG
  Nat Commun. 2021 Mar; 12(1):1742
• Immunogenicity of HIV-1-Based Virus-Like Particles with Increased Incorporation and Stability of Membrane-Bound Env.
  Gonelli CA, King HAD, Mackenzie C, Sonza S, Center RJ, Purcell DFJ
  Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Mar; 9(3)

2020 (1)

• Enhancing the antigenicity and immunogenicity of monomeric forms of hepatitis C virus E2 for use as a preventive vaccine.
  Center RJ, Boo I, Phu L, McGregor J, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  J Biol Chem. 2020 Apr; 295(21):7179-7192

2019 (3)

• Conjugation of an scFab domain to the oligomeric HIV envelope protein for use in immune targeting.
  King HAD, Gonelli CA, Tullett KM, Lahoud MH, Purcell DFJ, Drummer HE, Poumbourios P, Center RJ
  PLoS One. 2019 Aug; 14(8):e0220986
• Boosting of markers of FcgammaR function in anti-HIV antibodies during structured treatment interruption.
  Billings H, Wines B, Dyer W, Center R, Trist HM, Kent SJ, Hogarth PM
  AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2019 Jul; 35(9):842-852
• HIV-1-based Virus-like Particles that Morphologically Resemble Mature, Infectious HIV-1 Virions.
  Gonelli CA, Khoury G, Center RJ, Purcell DFJ
  Viruses. 2019 Jun; 11(6):E507

2018 (1)

• Identification of Native and Post-Translationally Modified HLA-B*57:01-Restricted HIV Envelope Derived Epitopes Using Immunoproteomics.
  Ramarathinam SH, Gras S, Alcantara S, Yeung AWS, Mifsud NA, Sonza S, Illing PT, Glaros EN, Center RJ, Thomas S, Kent SJ, Ternette N, Purcell DFJ, Rossjohn J, Purcell AW
  Proteomics. 2018 Feb; 18(12):e1700253

2017 (6)

• HIV-1 Env- and Vpu-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity responses associated with elite control of HIV.
  Madhavi V, Wines BD, Amin J, Emery S; ENCORE1 study group, Lopez E, Kelleher A; Sydney LTNP study group, Center RJ, Hogarth PM, Chung AW, Kent SJ, Stratov I
  J Virol. 2017 Aug; 91(18):e00700-17
• Partial efficacy of a broadly neutralizing antibody against cell-associated SHIV infection.
  Parsons MS, Lloyd SB, Lee WS, Kristensen AB, Amarasena T, Center RJ, Keele BF, Lifson JD, LaBranche CC, Montefiori D, Wines BD, Hogarth PM, Swiderek KM, Venturi V, Davenport MP, Kent SJ
  Sci Trans Med. 2017 Aug; 9(402):eaaf1483
• Memory B cells, the HLA-B*57 allele and natural control of HIV infection.
  Center RJ
  EBioMedicine. 2017 Jun; 21:47-48
• Trimeric gp120-specific bovine monoclonal antibodies require cysteine and aromatic residues in CDRH3 for high affinity binding to HIV Env.
  Behnaz Heydarchi, Rob J Center, Jonathan Bebbington, Jack Cuthbertson, Christopher Gonelli, Georges Khoury, Charlene Mackenzie, Marit Lichtfuss, Grant Rawlin, Brian Muller, Damian Purcell
  MAbs. 2017 Apr; 9(3):550-566
• Differentiating founder and chronic HIV envelope sequences.
  John M Murray, Stephen Maher, Talia Mota, Kazuo Suzuki, Anthony D Kelleher, Rob J Center, Damian Purcell
  PLoS One. 2017 Feb; 12(2):e0171572
• The core domain of hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 generates potent cross-neutralizing antibodies.
  Vietheer P, Boo I, Gu J, McCaffrey K, Edwards S, Owczarek C, Hardy MP, Fabri L, Center RJ, Poumbourios P, Drummer HE
  Hepatol. 2017 Jan; Epub ahead of print

2016 (3)

• Repeated Vaccination of Cows with HIV Env gp140 during Subsequent Pregnancies Elicits and Sustains an Enduring Strong Env-Binding and Neutralising Antibody Response.
  Heydarchi B, Center RJ, Gonelli C, Muller B, Mackenzie C, Khoury G, Lichtfuss M, Rawlin G. Purcell DF
  PLoS One. 2016 Jun; 11(6):e0157353
• Functional advantage of educated KIR2DL1 natural killer cells for anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent activation.
  Gooneratne SL, Center RJ, Kent SJ, Parsons MS
  Clin Exp Immunol. 2016 Feb; 184(1):101-109
• Brief Report: Seminal Plasma Anti-HIV Antibodies Trigger Antibody-dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity: Implications for HIV Transmission.
  Parsons MS, Madhavi V, Ana-Sosa-Batiz F, Center RJ, Wilson KM, Bunupuradah T, Ruxrungtham K, Kent SJ
  J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2016 Jan; 71(1):17-23

2015 (1)

• Antibody-dependent effector functions against HIV decline in subjects receiving antiretroviral therapy.
  Vijaya Madhavi, Fernanda E Ana-Sosa-Batiz, Sinthujan Jegaskanda, Rob J Center, Wendy R Winnall, Matthew S Parsons, Jintanat Ananworanich, David A Cooper, Anthony D Kelleher, Denise Hsu, Sarah Pett, Ivan Stratov, Marit Kramski, Stephen J Kent
  J Infect Dis. 2015 Feb; 211(4):529-538

2014 (6)

• Role of education and differentiation in determining the potential of natural killer cells to respond to antibody-dependent stimulation.
  Parsons MS, Loh L, Gooneratne S, Center RJ, Kent SJ
  AIDS. 2014 Nov; 28(18):2781-2786
• Breadth of HIV-1 Env-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity: relevance to global HIV vaccine design.
  Vijaya Madhavi, Leia H Wren, Rob J Center, Christopher Gonelli, Wendy R Winnall, Matthew S Parsons, Marit Kramski, Stephen J Kent, Ivan Stratov
  AIDS. 2014 Aug; 28(13):1859-1870
• Inhibition of Two Temporal Phases of HIV-1 Transfer from Primary Langerhans Cells to T Cells: The Role of Langerin.
  Nasr N, Lai J, Botting RA, Mercier SK, Harman AN, Kim M, Turville S, Center RJ, Domagala T, Gorry PR, Olbourne N, Cunningham AL
  J Immunol. 2014 Jul; 193(5):2554-2564
• HIV-specific antibody-dependent phagocytosis matures during HIV infection.
  Ana-Sosa-Batiz F, Johnston AP, Liu H, Center RJ, Rerks-Ngarm S, Pitisuttithum P, Nitayaphan S, Kaewkungwal J, Kim JH, Michael NL, Kelleher AD, Stratov I, Kent SJ, Kramski M
  Immunol Cell Biol. 2014 Jun; 92(8):679-687
• The maturation of antibody technology for the HIV epidemic.
  Winnall WR, Beasley MD, Center RJ, Parsons MS, Kiefel BR, Kent SJ
  Immunol Cell Biol. 2014 May; 92(7):570-577
• Anti-HIV antibody-dependent activation of NK cells impairs NKp46 expression.
  Matthew S Parsons, Chi-Chang Tang, Sinthujan Jegaskanda, Robert J Center, Andrew G Brooks, Ivan Stratov, Stephen J Kent
  J Immunol. 2014 Jan; 192(1):308-315

2013 (3)

• Short communication: antibody responses to human immunodeficiency virus envelope from infections with multiple subtypes utilize the 1F7-idiotypic repertoire.
  Matthew S Parsons, Robert J Center, Jean-Pierre Routy, Danielle Rouleau, Roger Leblanc, Mark A Wainberg, Cecile L Tremblay, Marcel D Zannou, Stephen J Kent, Michael D Grant, Nicole F Bernard
  AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2013 May; 29(5):778-783
• Utility of the Sindbis replicon system as an Env-targeted HIV vaccine.
  Rob J Center, Annett Miller, Adam K Wheatley, Shahan M Campbell, Carly Siebentritt, Damian F J Purcell
  Vaccine. 2013 Apr; 31(18):2260-2266
• Isotype-switched immunoglobulin G antibodies to HIV Gag proteins may provide alternative or additional immune responses to 'protective' human leukocyte antigen-B alleles in HIV controllers.
  Martyn A French, Rob J Center, Kim M Wilson, Ibrahim Fleyfel, Sonia Fernandez, Anna Schorcht, Ivan Stratov, Marit Kramski, Stephen J Kent, Anthony D Kelleher
  AIDS. 2013 Feb; 27(4):519-528

2012 (5)

• Role of monocytes in mediating HIV-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.
  Kramski M, Schorcht A, Johnston AP, Lichtfuss GF, Jegaskanda S, De Rose R, Stratov I, Kelleher AD, French MA, Center RJ, Jaworowski A, Kent SJ
  J Immunol Methods. 2012 Oct; 384(1-2):51-61
• Hyperimmune bovine colostrum as a low-cost, large-scale source of antibodies with broad neutralizing activity for HIV-1 envelope with potential use in microbicides.
  Marit Kramski, Rob J Center, Adam K Wheatley, Jonathan C Jacobson, Marina R Alexander, Grant Rawlin, Damian F J Purcell
  Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2012 Aug; 56(8):4310-4319
• Application of a case-control study design to investigate genotypic signatures of HIV-1 transmission.
  Talia M Mota, John M Murray, Rob J Center, Damian F J Purcell, James M McCaw
  Retrovirology. 2012 Jun; 9:54
• Anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated by hyperimmune bovine colostrum IgG.
  Kramski M, Lichtfuss GF, Navis M, Isitman G, Wren L, Rawlin G, Center RJ, Jaworowski A, Kent SJ, Purcell DF
  Eur J Immunol. 2012 Jun; 42(10):2771-2781
• Influence of cytokines on HIV-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activation profile of natural killer cells.
  Leia Wren, Matthew S Parsons, Gamze Isitman, Robert J Center, Anthony D Kelleher, Ivan Stratov, Nicole F Bernard, Stephen J Kent
  PLoS One. 2012 Jun; 7(6):e38580

2011 (6)

• NK cell function and antibodies mediating ADCC in HIV-1-infected viremic and controller patients.
  Susanne E Johansson, Erik Rollman, Amy W Chung, Rob J Center, Bo Hejdeman, Ivan Stratov, Jorma Hinkula, Britta Wahren, Klas Karre, Stephen J Kent, Louise Berg
  Viral Immunol. 2011 Oct; 24(5):359-368
• Novel sensitive real-time PCR for quantification of bacterial 16S rRNA genes in plasma of HIV-infected patients as a marker for microbial translocation.
  Kramski M, Gaeguta AJ, Lichtfuss GF, Rajasuriar R, Crowe SM, French MA, Lewin SR, Center RJ, Purcell DF
  J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Oct; 49(10):3691-3693
• Induction of humoral and cellular immune responses against the HIV-1 envelope protein using gamma-retroviral virus-like particles.
  Tea Kirkegaard, Adam Wheatley, Jesper Melchjorsen, Shervin Bahrami, Finn S Pedersen, Robert J Center, Damian F J Purcell, Lars Ostergaard, Mogens Duch, Martin Tolstrup
  Virol J. 2011 Aug; 8:381
• Immune escape from HIV-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) pressure.
  Amy W Chung, Gamze Isitman, Marjon Navis, Marit Kramski, Rob J Center, Stephen J Kent, Ivan Stratov
  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 May; 108(18):7505-7510
• Activation of NK cells by ADCC responses during early HIV infection.
  Amy W Chung, Marjon Navis, Gamze Isitman, Rob Centre, Robert Finlayson, Mark Bloch, Linda Gelgor, Antony Kelleher, Stephen J Kent, Ivan Stratov
  Viral Immunol. 2011 Apr; 24(2):171-175
• Co-expression of miRNA targeting the expression of PERK, but not PKR, enhances cellular immunity from an HIV-1 Env DNA vaccine.
  Adam K Wheatley, Marit Kramski, Marina R Alexander, Jesse G Toe, Rob J Center, Damian F J Purcell
  PLoS One. 2011 Mar; 6(3):e18225

2010 (2)

• Disulfide bond that constrains the HIV-1 gp120 V3 domain is cleaved by thioredoxin.
  Iman Azimi, Lisa J Matthias, Rob J Center, Jason W H Wong, Philip J Hogg
  J Biol Chem. 2010 Dec; 285(51):40072-40080
• Efficient transcription through an intron requires the binding of an Sm-type U1 snRNP with intact stem loop II to the splice donor.
  Marina R Alexander, Adam K Wheatley, Rob J Center, Damian F J Purcell
  Nucleic Acids Res. 2010 May; 38(9):3041-3053

2009 (4)

• Induction of HIV-1 subtype B and AE-specific neutralizing antibodies in mice and macaques with DNA prime and recombinant gp140 protein boost regimens.
  Rob J Center, Adam K Wheatley, Shahan M Campbell, Adriana J Gaeguta, Viv Peut, Sheilajen Alcantara, Carly Siebentritt, Stephen J Kent, Damian F J Purcell
  Vaccine. 2009 Nov; 27(47):6605-6612
• Balancing reversion of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and neutralizing antibody escape mutations within human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Env upon transmission.
  Viv Peut, Shahan Campbell, Adriana Gaeguta, Rob J Center, Kim Wilson, Sheilajen Alcantara, Caroline S Fernandez, Damian F J Purcell, Stephen J Kent
  J Virol. 2009 Sep; 83(17):8986-8992
• Complexity of the inoculum determines the rate of reversion of SIV Gag CD8 T cell mutant virus and outcome of infection.
  Liyen Loh, Jeanette C Reece, Caroline S Fernandez, Sheilajen Alcantara, Robert Center, Jane Howard, Damian F J Purcell, Mehala Balamurali, Janka Petravic, Miles P Davenport, Stephen J Kent
  PLoS Pathog. 2009 Apr; 5(4):e1000378
• Rapid degranulation of NK cells following activation by HIV-specific antibodies.
  Chung AW, Rollman E, Center RJ, Kent SJ, Stratov I
  J Immunol. 2009 Jan; 182(2):1202-1210

2008 (1)

• Sindbis virus vectors elicit hemagglutinin-specific humoral and cellular immune responses and offer a dose-sparing strategy for vaccination.
  Annett Miller, Rob J Center, John Stambas, Georgia Deliyannis, Peter C Doherty, Jane L Howard, Stephen J Turner, Damian F J Purcell
  Vaccine. 2008 Oct; 26(44):5641-5648

2004 (1)

• Promoting trimerization of soluble human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Env through the use of HIV-1/simian immunodeficiency virus chimeras.
  Rob J Center, Jacob Lebowitz, Richard D Leapman, Bernard Moss
  J Virol. 2004 Mar; 78(5):2265-2276

2002 (1)

• Oligomeric structure of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope protein on the virion surface.
  Rob J Center, Richard D Leapman, Jacob Lebowitz, Larry O Arthur, Patricia L Earl, Bernard Moss
  J Virol. 2002 Aug; 76(15):7863-7867

2001 (1)

• Oligomeric structure of virion-associated and soluble forms of the simian immunodeficiency virus envelope protein in the prefusion activated conformation.
  R J Center, P Schuck, R D Leapman, L O Arthur, P L Earl, B Moss, J Lebowitz
  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Dec; 98(26):14877-14882

2000 (2)

• Functional implications of the human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein helical hairpin structure.
  A L Maerz, R J Center, B E Kemp, B Kobe, P Poumbourios
  J Virol. 2000 Jul; 74(14):6614-6621
• The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 V2 domain mediates gp41-independent intersubunit contacts.
  R J Center, P L Earl, J Lebowitz, P Schuck, B Moss
  J Virol. 2000 May; 74(10):4448-4455

1999 (2)

• Evolutionary conservation of the membrane fusion machine.
  P Poumbourios, R J Center, K A Wilson, B E Kemp, B Kobe
  IUBMB Life. 1999 Aug; 48(2):151-156
• Crystal structure of human T cell leukemia virus type 1 gp21 ectodomain crystallized as a maltose-binding protein chimera reveals structural evolution of retroviral transmembrane proteins.
  B Kobe, R J Center, B E Kemp, P Poumbourios
  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Apr; 96(8):4319-4324

1998 (1)

• Crystallization of a trimeric human T cell leukemia virus type 1 gp21 ectodomain fragment as a chimera with maltose-binding protein.
  R J Center, B Kobe, K A Wilson, T Teh, G J Howlett, B E Kemp, P Poumbourios
  Protein Sci. 1998 Jul; 7(7):1612-1619

1997 (2)

• Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 envelope glycoproteins oligomerize through conserved sequences.
  R J Center, B E Kemp, P Poumbourios
  J Virol. 1997 Jul; 71(7):5706-5711
• Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein oligomerization requires the gp41 amphipathic alpha-helical/leucine zipper-like sequence.
  P Poumbourios, K A Wilson, R J Center, W El Ahmar, B E Kemp
  J Virol. 1997 Mar; 71(3):2041-2049

1993 (4)

• Y chromosome loss and rearrangement in non-small-cell lung cancer.
  R Center, R Lukeis, V Vrazas, O M Garson
  Int J Cancer. 1993 Sep; 55(3):390-393
• Co-amplification of the gene for parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHRP) and KRAS2 in a human lung cancer cell line.
  C Rudduck, L Duncan, R Center, O M Garson
  Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 1993 Aug; 7(4):213-218
• Identification of brain isoforms of the rat calcitonin receptor.
  P M Sexton, S Houssami, J M Hilton, L M O'Keeffe, R J Center, M T Gillespie, P Darcy, D M Findlay
  Mol Endocrinol. 1993 Jun; 7(6):815-821
• Molecular deletion of 9p sequences in non-small cell lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.
  R Center, R Lukeis, E Dietzsch, M Gillespie, O M Garson
  Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 1993 May; 7(1):47-53

News Articles (4)

2021 (1)

• New cells harnessed to ambush and kill malaria

2019 (1)

• ACH2 grants a terrific outcome

2018 (1)

• ACH2 grants a fabulous outcome

2016 (1)

• Prestigious 2016 Frank Fenner Award for Heidi Drummer