Dr Rehana Hewavisenti is an early career researcher with broad research interests in human translational immunology, with special interests in understanding the immune responses in virally-induced cancer, sepsis and pancreatitis.  Dr Hewavisenti completed her PhD at the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology and the University of Sydney, where she conducted research focusing on the phenotypic and functional characteristics of tissue-resident T cells in human disease.

Dr Hewavisenti’s main goal is to continue her work in virology, infectious disease and cancer immunology, to better understand how we can better harness the immune system to prevent persistent disease and cancer development. Dr Hewavisenti’s research experience to date has helped develop a strong multidisciplinary profile in translational immunology, T cell biology, molecular biology, and HPV-driven malignancies, where she has gained experience in numerous methodologies such as multi-parameter flow cytometry, multiplex immunohistochemistry and spatial transcriptomics.

Within the Immunovirology and Pathogenesis Program at The Kirby Institute, her work revolves around translational immunology, T cell biology and HPV virally-driven cancer in immunocompromised individuals.