Infection, Immunity and Global Health

Our work addresses important infectious diseases and immune and allergy problems that impact children both locally and globally.

Children smiling

Our research

Our research topics are broad, including;

  • childhood respiratory disease (pneumonia, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis)
  • gastrointestinal disease (rotavirus and other enteric viruses, mucosal immunology, Helicobacter pylori)
  • neglected tropical diseases (scabies, rheumatic fever, parasitic diseases)
  • maternal and neonatal infections, vaccinology (vaccine discovery, vaccine clinical trials and evaluation, vaccine safety)
  • infectious diseases modelling, operational and public health field research, and clinical infectious diseases
  • immune therapies (peanut allergy, non-specific effects of BCG), investigation of how infections affect future health (especially cardiovascular health) among others.

Many of our research areas have particular relevance to disadvantaged populations, especially in low and middle-income countries, and we have an established track record and emerging program in Global Child Health. 

Our research topics are broad, including;

  • childhood respiratory disease (pneumonia, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis)
  • gastrointestinal disease (rotavirus and other enteric viruses, mucosal immunology, Helicobacter pylori)
  • neglected tropical diseases...

Our research topics are broad, including;

  • childhood respiratory disease (pneumonia, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis)
  • gastrointestinal disease (rotavirus and other enteric viruses, mucosal immunology, Helicobacter pylori)
  • neglected tropical diseases (scabies, rheumatic fever, parasitic diseases)
  • maternal and neonatal infections, vaccinology (vaccine discovery, vaccine clinical trials and evaluation, vaccine safety)
  • infectious diseases modelling, operational and public health field research, and clinical infectious diseases
  • immune therapies (peanut allergy, non-specific effects of BCG), investigation of how infections affect future health (especially cardiovascular health) among others.

Many of our research areas have particular relevance to disadvantaged populations, especially in low and middle-income countries, and we have an established track record and emerging program in Global Child Health. 

Infection, Immunity and Global Health Groups

Allergy Immunology

Reducing the personal and societal burden of food allergy through improving management and developing cures.

Explore Allergy Immunology

Antimicrobials

Collaborations and clinical trials to improve safety, efficacy, accessibility of treatment and personalise medication use for children.

Explore Antimicrobials

Asia Pacific Health

Improving the health of children and families in the Asia-Pacific.

Explore Asia Pacific Health

Cellular Immunology

Understanding the roles of the many cell types that make up the immune system.

Explore Cellular Immunology

Clinical Infections

Advancing diagnosis, investigation and treatment of children with common childhood illnesses who present to the hospital.

Explore Clinical Infections

Enteric Diseases

Reducing disease burden and deaths because of enteric diseases.

Explore Enteric Diseases

Infectious Diseases

Improving health outcomes for children and communities by supporting better policy decision-making for disease prevention and control.

Explore Infectious Diseases

Inflammatory Origins

Understanding susceptibility to infection and inflammation.

Explore Inflammatory Origins

International Child Health

Focusing on equity and the health professionals and systems which deliver care in the Asia-Pacific region.

Explore International Child Health

Molecular Immunity

Understanding the early cellular and molecular origins of childhood health and complex disease.

Explore Molecular Immunity

Molecular Microbiology

Improving reproductive health through infectious diseases research.

Explore Molecular Microbiology

New Vaccines

Developing, evaluating and enhancing vaccination strategies worldwide.

Explore New Vaccines

Respiratory

Improving the respiratory health and well-being of all children and young people.

Explore Respiratory

SAEFVIC

Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community (SAEFVIC) focuses on vaccine safety and surveillance.

Explore SAEFVIC

Translational Microbiology

Discovering better ways to detect and prevent diseases caused by bacterial pathogens of major global health importance.

Explore Translational Microbiology

Tropical Diseases

Preventing and controlling infectious diseases that affect children and their families in disadvantaged communities.

Explore Tropical Diseases

Vaccine and immunisation research group (VIRGO)

Translating between theory and the real-world delivery of vaccine programs.

Explore VIRGO

Vaccine Immunology

Conducting research to better understand the human immune response to childhood vaccines and infections.

Explore Vaccine Immunology

Vaccine Uptake

Improving vaccine confidence and uptake across the lifespan in Australia and globally.

Explore Vaccine Uptake