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About the lab

Malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest parasitic diseases. Our team’s research has made fundamental discoveries in novel host-pathogen interactions and examined their molecular and structural mechanisms to drive rational design of new therapies against malaria.

The Tham lab studies parasite adhesins required for entry into human red cells, parasite surface proteins that bind to human complement proteins for immune evasion and novel parasite proteins involved in fertilisation in the mosquito.

Our work intersects with the fields of structural biology, nanobody technology, immuno-epidemiology and molecular parasitology. The overarching aim is to rationally design and generate new inhibitors or antibodies that block these interactions and stop recurrent malaria infection in humans and block transmission from mosquitoes.

Our mission

To understand mechanisms of malaria parasite entry and fertilisation for the development of novel interventions to stop infection and transmission of the malaria parasites.

Highlights

Group photo of the Tham Lab outside a research institute
Above: We had a wonderful time at the Single Domain Antibodies conference at Institut Pasteur. September 2023.

Lab research projects

Lab team

11 members
Jill Chmielewski
Research Officer
Jackson Feng
PhD Student
Frankie Lyons
PhD Student
Jaison D Sa
PhD Student
Li Jin Chan
Research Officer
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Dr Phill Pymm
Senior Research Officer
Rainbow Chan
Research Assistant
Melanie Dietrich
Dr Melanie Dietrich
Senior Research Officer
Interested in supporting our research?

Your support will help WEHI’s researchers make discoveries and find treatments to ensure healthier, longer lives for you and your loved ones.

Contact our friendly team to find out how you can help.