Two researchers from the Doherty Institute have been awarded a combined $2.1 million through the prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowships to support their research aimed at protecting both human and animal health over the next four years.
The ARC Future Fellowships scheme supports outstanding mid-career researchers to undertake high-quality discovery and applied research in areas of national and international benefit, as part of the ARC’s broader Discovery Program aimed at strengthening Australia’s research and innovation capacity.
Below are the funded researchers and their projects:
Preparing Australia for the next panzootic
Dr Michelle Wille ($1,131,187)
The University of Melbourne’s Dr Michelle Wille, Senior Research Fellow at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza at the Doherty Institute and a leading researcher in avian and zoonotic viruses, has received ARC funding to tackle one of the most urgent emerging infectious disease threats – High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. While this devastating virus has not yet reached Australian shores, its catastrophic impact on wildlife and domestic animals globally is cause for serious concern.
Dr Wille’s work aims to shift Australia’s HPAI preparedness and response from a reactive to a preventive approach. This holistic fellowship incorporates the implementation of environmental surveillance strategies, addresses the differing impact HPAI may have on Australia wild birds which can clarify wild bird species that could act as virus movers which together can better resolve high-risk times and locations for the poultry industry.
“HPAI is unlikely to be the only virus knocking on our door. This work is about building the frameworks that allow us to respond rapidly and effectively to the next panzootic on the horizon,” said Dr Wille.
Unlocking the Secrets of T Cell Immunity
Dr Pirooz Zareie ($969,312)
With this ARC Fellowship, the University of Melbourne’s Dr Pirooz Zareie, an ARC DECRA Fellow at the Doherty Institute, will explore how different types of memory T cells form, an essential question for understanding long-term immune protection.
T cells play a critical role in fighting infection, and the immune system’s ability to ‘remember’ past threats depends on the development of specialised T cell subsets. Dr Zareie’s project will apply cutting-edge tools and harness cross-disciplinary expertise to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive this process.
“This project will not only deepen our understanding of memory T cell biology, but may also have far-reaching applications across species, including potential benefits for human health and conservation efforts,” said Dr Zareie.
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