Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Immunology, Cellular immunology, Infectious diseasesSEO tags
Biography
I lead the Cellular Immunology and Vaccinology Laboratory at the UNSW School of Biomedical Sciences and the UNSW RNA Institute. Our research explores how T cells are programmed to provide long-lasting protection against infection, and how these principles can be harnessed to design effective next-generation vaccines and...view more
I lead the Cellular Immunology and Vaccinology Laboratory at the UNSW School of Biomedical Sciences and the UNSW RNA Institute. Our research explores how T cells are programmed to provide long-lasting protection against infection, and how these principles can be harnessed to design effective next-generation vaccines and immune interventions.
My laboratory is built around three closely connected pillars: (i) fundamental T cell biology, including the regulation of T cell fate by non-coding RNA, (ii) vaccine development, particularly aimed at generating tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM cells), and (iii) malaria immunology and translational research. This program integrates mechanistic immunology, genomics and RNA biology with infection models and translational vaccine platforms, bridging fundamental discovery with immune intervention.
My Grants
NHMRC Ideas Grant (CIA), 2025–2028 — RNA-mediated programming of T cell immunity
UNSW–Mahidol Joint Research Grant (Co-PI), 2026–2027 — translational malaria immunology
My Qualifications
2008 - PhD, Immunology, University of Bonn, Germany.
2003 - BSc, Biochemistry, University of Oviedo, Spain.
2001 - BSc, Biology, University of Oviedo, Spain.
My Research Activities
My laboratory investigates how T cell immunity is generated, programmed and translated into long-lasting protection, with an emphasis on tissue-localised immune responses and vaccine design.
1. Fundamental T cell biology and immune programming
We study how T cells differentiate into long-lived protective populations, with a particular focus on tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM). Our work aims to define the cellular and molecular signals that control T cell activation, differentiation, positioning and persistence, and how these processes shape protective immunity.
2. Vaccine development and immune engineering
We investigate how vaccine strategies can be designed to generate optimal T cell responses, particularly long-lived tissue-resident immunity. This includes the development and evaluation of experimental vaccine platforms, including RNA-based approaches, and identifying principles that enable durable and targeted immune protection.
3. Malaria immunology and translational research
We study immune responses to malaria with a focus on T cell-mediated protection and tissue immunity. Through a combination of experimental models and human studies in endemic settings, our work aims to translate immunological insights into strategies that support the development of next-generation vaccines.
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
My laboratory studies how T cell immunity is generated, programmed and maintained to provide long-lasting protection against infection. A central focus of our work is understanding the development and function of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM cells), which can provide rapid and effective immune protection within tissues.
Research projects span the lab's three interconnected areas: fundamental T cell biology and immune programming, including the molecular regulation of T cell fate; the design of vaccination strategies to generate durable, tissue-localised immune responses; and malaria immunology, where these principles are investigated in both experimental models and human systems.
Students in the laboratory are trained in mechanistic immunology, experimental infection and vaccination models, and translational approaches that connect basic discovery with real-world immune protection.
Currently supervising
- Sahara Waide (PhD student, primary supervisor)
- Grace Peters (PhD student, co-supervisor)
- Peeter Graham‑Vilo (PhD student, co-supervisor)
My Engagement
My research is highly collaborative and spans international partnerships, interdisciplinary research and translational engagement. I work closely with collaborators at Mahidol University (Thailand) and Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz (Brazil) to connect mechanistic immunology with human studies in malaria-endemic settings.
I am also involved in translational and industry-linked initiatives focused on RNA-based immune modulation and vaccine development, and contribute to the broader research community through mentoring, collaborative forums and scientific engagement.
Contact
ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4040-9121