The Univeristy of Melbourne The Royal Melbourne Hopspital

A joint venture between The University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Dr Michael Duffy


Dr Michael Duffy was awarded his PhD in Microbiology by the School of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne. He then undertook post-doctoral research into the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum for the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, but based at the Eijkman Institute in Jakarta Indonesia. He returned to University of Melbourne where his research has focussed on variant antigens as pathogenic determinants of Plasmodium falciparum and how the parasite regulates gene expression through chromatin structural elements, in particular, variant histones and bromodomain proteins. The latter are of particular interest as potential therapeutic targets.

  • Key Achievements
    • Dr Duffy’s research into the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has contributed to identification of vaccine targets and to the understanding of parasite antigenic variation and chromatin regulation of parasite gene expression. Dr Duffy has been awarded four ARC/NHMRC grants as Chief Invesigator A and is co-investigator of an International Global Health Innovative Technologies grant. Dr Duffy has published 45 research articles and is an academic editor of the flagship journal, PLoS Biology. Dr Duffy has supervised 9 PhD and 11 honours students, he lectures undergraduate microbiology and genetics and is a co-inventor of a patented Mycoplasma pneumiae serodiagnostic antigen produced under licence.

    Publications
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