WEHI has appointed an outstanding scientific leadership team to drive impact, advance innovation and shape the future vision of the institute.

Four deputy directors and 15 division heads have been appointed, as part of an update to WEHI’s scientific structure that will enhance collaboration and better support the institute’s scientific strengths.

New deputy directors – Professor Marnie Blewitt, Professor James Murphy, Professor Tony Papenfuss and Professor Andrew Roberts – will provide strategic leadership, financial stewardship and operational oversight for key research areas.

Renowned scientific leaders will head WEHI’s 12 divisions, which bring together research laboratories focused on areas of strength, ranging from cancer and genetics to bioinformatics and diagnostics.

WEHI director Professor Ken Smith said: “With a refreshed scientific structure that supports our strengths and scientific priorities, and this strong leadership team, WEHI will be well placed to remain at the forefront of scientific discoveries that help people live healthier lives for longer.”

Professor Marnie Blewitt has been appointed deputy director responsible for oversight of the Structural Biology, Genetics and Gene Regulation, and Ubiquitin Signalling divisions.

Division heads are:

• Professor Peter Czabotar, Structural Biology
• Professor Matt Ritchie, Genetics and Gene Regulation
• Professor David Komander, Ubiquitin Signalling

Professor James Murphy has been appointed deputy director responsible for oversight of the Immunology, Infection and Global Health, and Inflammation divisions.

Division heads are:

• Professor Daniel Gray and Associate Professor Joanna Groom, Immunology
• Professor Ivo Mueller and Professor Chris Tonkin, Infection and Global Health
• Professor John Silke, Inflammation

Professor Tony Papenfuss has been appointed deputy director responsible for oversight of the Advanced Technology and Biology, Bioinformatics/Computational Biology, and New Medicines and Diagnostics divisions.

Division heads are:

• Professor Kelly Rogers, Advanced Technology and Biology
• Professor Gordon Smyth, Bioinformatics/Computational Biology
• Professor Guillaume Lessene, New Medicines and Diagnostics

Professor Andrew Roberts has been appointed deputy director responsible for oversight of the ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cells, Blood Cancer, and Personalised Oncology divisions.

Division heads are:

• Professor Jane Visvader and Professor Geoff Lindeman, ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cells
• Professor Andreas Strasser, Blood Cancer
• Professor Marie-Liesse Asselin-Labat, Personalised Oncology

The new appointments and refreshed scientific structure come into effect in January 2025.

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Header image: New deputy directors for WEHI (left to right): Professor Tony Papenfuss, Professor Marnie Blewitt, Professor Andrew Roberts and Professor James Murphy.