The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Latest News 02/2010

New laboratory heads strengthen institute research

 

Nine new laboratory heads have been appointed by the institute following a rigorous selection process. The following scientists, who have made significant contributions to their fields of research, started their new roles on 1 January:

Dr Axel Kallies in the Immunology division, Dr Tony Papenfuss in Bioinformatics, Drs Doug Fairlie and Jeff Babon in Structural Biology, Dr Marnie Blewitt in Molecular Medicine, Dr Clare Scott in Molecular Genetics of Cancer and Drs Jake Baum and Chris Tonkin in Infection and Immunity.

Drs Matthew and Melissa Call from Harvard Medical School will take up their posts as joint laboratory heads in the Structural Biology division later this year.

Below is brief biographical information on our new laboratory heads.

Jake Baum

Infection and Immunity division

Jake completed his PhD in infectious and tropical diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, in 2002. He joined the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 2003 in the Infection and Immunity division, where he is currently working.

Chris Tonkin

Infection and Immunity division

After completing a summer student scholarship at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 1998/99, Chris completed his PhD in 2004 at the School of Botany, The University of Melbourne. He then joined the institute in 2004 as a postdoctoral fellow. Chris works in the Infection and Immunity division.

Tony Papenfuss

Bioinformatics division

After completing his PhD at Monash University’s School of Mathematics and Statistics, Tony joined the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre as a medical imaging scientist. Tony joined the Bioinformatics division of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 2003.

Axel Kallies

Immunology division

Axel completed his PhD in Germany in 2002 at the Free University of Berlin and Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology. In 2004 Axel joined the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. He works in the Immunology Division.

Clare Scott

Molecular Genetics of Cancer division

Clare completed her Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery in 1989 at the University of Melbourne. She then went on to complete her PhD in medical oncology in 2000. Clare has been associated with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute since 1996.

Doug Fairlie

Structural Biology division

Doug completed his PhD in 1994 at the Department of Biochemistry, Monash University. After a postdoctoral stint at the State University of New York and a Senior Research Officer posting at St Vincent’s Hospital NSW, Doug joined the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 2001. Doug works in the Structural Biology division.

Jeff Babon

Structural Biology division

Jeff completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 1999. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Medical Research, London, before joining the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 2003. Jeff works in the Structural Biology division.

Marnie Blewitt

Molecular Medicine division

Marnie completed her PhD at the University of Sydney in 2004. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Sydney before joining the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in 2005.

Melissa Call

Structural Biology division

Melissa completed her PhD in molecular medicine at the University of Auckland in 2002. She then moved to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the US as a postdoctoral fellow. Melissa will join the institute late in 2010 and will jointly run a laboratory in the Structural Biology division with Matthew Call.

Matthew Call

Structural Biology division

Matthew completed his PhD at Harvard University in March 2007. He has been at the Harvard Medical School ever since. Matthew will join the institute late in 2010 and will jointly run a laboratory in the Structural Biology division with Melissa Call.

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