The appointment of joint acting deputy directors comes as WEHI prepares for the departure of Professor Doug Hilton AO, and the commencement of Professor Alan Cowman AC as acting director on 31 August.

Prof Pasricha and Prof Blewitt will jointly oversee the institute’s diverse responsibilities during Prof Cowman’s tenure as acting director.

“I am absolutely thrilled to announce that Sant-Rayn Pasricha and Marnie Blewitt will undertake the roles of joint acting deputy directors of WEHI,” Prof Cowman said.

“Their combination of skills and experience will provide me personally with exceptional support, and WEHI with robust and comprehensive leadership.”

As a result of the acting deputy director appointments, Professor Ivo Mueller will temporarily assume the role of sole division head for Population Health and Immunity, while Professor Anne Voss will temporarily be the sole division head of Epigenetics and Development at WEHI.

Additionally, Associate Professor Melissa Call has been appointed to the position of head of Education, succeeding Prof Blewitt.

In March this year, WEHI president Jane Hemstritch AO announced that Prof Hilton would be stepping down from his role at WEHI, after almost four decades of unwavering dedication to the institute and 14 years as director.

Prof Hilton will commence as the Chief Executive of CSIRO on 29 September.

The WEHI Board is undertaking a global search for the institute’s new director, supported by Chief People Officer Elizabeth McMahon and international executive search firm, Perret Laver.