Researcher

Dr Sarah Christina Sasson

My Expertise

Immunology

Keywords

Biography

Sarah is a Clinical Immunologist/Immunopathologist and Scientia Senior Lecturer. She graduated from a BSc(HonsI)/BA (English) prior to a combined MBBS(Hons)/PhD program. Sarah completed specialist medical training in Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology at St Vincent's, Royal Prince Alfred, Concord, Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals and gained dual fellowships of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Royal College of...view more

Sarah is a Clinical Immunologist/Immunopathologist and Scientia Senior Lecturer. She graduated from a BSc(HonsI)/BA (English) prior to a combined MBBS(Hons)/PhD program. Sarah completed specialist medical training in Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology at St Vincent's, Royal Prince Alfred, Concord, Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals and gained dual fellowships of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Royal College of Pathologists Australasia in 2017. From 2018-2019 Sarah undertook postdoctoral studies at the University of Oxford investigating autoimmune toxicities of immune checkpoint inhibitors in Professor Paul Klenerman's laboratory.

Sarah's broad research area is human translational Immunology. Her particular interests include the role of  T cells in the control of cancers and sepsis as well as COVID-19 in immunocompromised people.

Broad Research Areas:
Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Cancer Immunology, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Mucosal Immunology, Sepsis

Qualifications:
BA, BSc(Hons I), MBBS(Hons), PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Publications:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1limy-hBarikX/bibliography/public/


My Grants

2022-2026 MRFF for Comparing Immunisation-boosting Regimens for COVID-19 for people Upon Initiation of immunosuppressive Therapies ("CIRCUIT" RCT) (CIA)

2022-2026 MRFF for Comparing Use of B cell depletion therapies to IVIg in CIDP ("CUBIC" Study) (CIG)

2022-2023 NSW Health Pathology Grant for Critical Illness, Infection and Immunology "CI3" Biobank

2021-22  NIH R21 Co-infection and Cancer

2020-23 UNSW Scientia Fellowship

2020       Kirby Institute Emerging Investigator Award

2020       Australian Intensive Care Foundation Grant

2019       University of Oxford Human Immunology Discovery Initiative Grant

2019       University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division Pump-Prime Grant

2019       Nanostring Autoimmunity Grant

2018-19 Oxford-Celgene Postdoctoral Fellowship

2013       SydPath Research Grant

2006       NHMRC Dora Lush (Biomedical) PhD Scholarship

2004       St Vincent's Hospital Centre for Immunology PhD Scholarship

 


My Qualifications

BA(English) BSc (Hons I Immunology) MBBS(Hons) PhD FRACP FRCPA


My Research Supervision


Supervision keywords


Areas of supervision

  • Characterisation and harnessing the local immune response in respiratory sepsis.
  • T cell control of human papilloma virus-driven anal dysplasia and cancer.
  • Pathogenesis of Severe Acute Pancreatitis
  • COVID-19 and immunosuppressed patients

Currently supervising

  • Karthik Venkatesh (PhD Student)
  • Joshua Arena (PhD Student)
  • Tyler Shai-Hee (PhD Student)

My Engagement

COVID-19 Outcomes Registry Study for Immunosuppressed Patients in Australia (CORIA) Study (2020)—Press Release

"First Cancer Immunology Ideas Forum Takes place at UNSW" (2021) —Article in 'Oncology Republic'

"Immunocompromised: The forgotten people" (2021)—Interview on 'The Briefing' Podcast

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