Kylie Quinn

Dr Kylie Quinn

Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellow

Black background. Multiple coloured clouds in the foreground. Colours range from white, pink, green, and blue.
Kylie Quinn profile photo she is wearing glasses and smiling

Contact details

STEM College | School of Health and Biomedical Sciences


Emailkylie.quinn@rmit.edu.au 


Phone: +613 9925 9086 


Campus: Bundoora


Programs

 ONPS2559 - Clinical Immunology


 ONPS2388 - Advanced Immunology and Cell Technology


More information

Kylie Quinn profile photo she is wearing glasses and smiling

Contact details

STEM College | School of Health and Biomedical Sciences


Emailkylie.quinn@rmit.edu.au 


Phone: +613 9925 9086 


Campus: Bundoora


Programs

 ONPS2559 - Clinical Immunology


 ONPS2388 - Advanced Immunology and Cell Technology


More information

Dr Kylie Quinn is a Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow at RMIT University whose research focuses on cell-based immunotherapies, vaccines, and ageing.

Overview

Dr Kylie Quinn is a Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow at RMIT University where she leads the Ageing and Immunotherapies research group. Her current research is focused on understanding how ageing alters T cell immunity in older individuals, with the ultimate aim of optimising immune function during vaccination and cell-based therapies. 

One key area of research is focused on a new immune cell-based therapy for cancer, called chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CTT). In CTT, a patient’s T cells are activated, modified with a chimeric antigen receptor directed against a tumour-associated antigen, and transferred back into the patient to eliminate malignant cells. It can achieve striking remission rates, but it can be more variable in older patients, as aged T cells become more difficult to activate and T cell function shifts with age. Her work aims to identify what mechanisms limit T cell activation during ageing and to remove that barrier during the CTT protocol, thereby tailoring CTT for older patients. 

Her other key area of research is focused on understanding how to trigger optimal T cell responses through vaccination in older patients. Older individuals tend to have poorer T cell responses to novel infections and vaccines due to deficits in naïve T cell populations. They can also have reduced responses to previously encountered infections due to changes in memory T cell composition and quality. Her work aims to identify optimal mechanisms of adjuvancy and other adjunct therapeutics to improve vaccine responses in older patients. 

Prior to joining RMIT University, Dr Quinn was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Monash University and the University of Melbourne, and a Visiting Fellow at the National Institutes of Health in the USA, where she worked on defining how novel vaccine formulations work and contributed key pre-clinical data for Ebola vaccines that were selected by the World Health Organisation for trials in the 2014 epidemic in West Africa. Since arriving in Australia in 2013, her research focused on ageing and immunity. She has received a number of awards for her work, including the John and Eileen Haddon Award for Geriatric Research from the Rebecca L Cooper Foundation (2019), Jared Purton Award for an Emerging Researcher in Immunology from the Australia and New Zealand Society of Immunology (2019) and the RMIT University Rising Media Star Award (2020). 

More broadly, Dr Quinn is passionate about communicating science to the public and has a long-standing interest in issues of equity and inclusion in science. She is the current Australia and New Zealand Society of Immunology Women’s Initiative Co-ordinator (2019-2021) and has engaged extensively with a wide variety of media outlets and public forums in Australia and internationally to support vaccine education during the 2020/21 COVID pandemic. 

Web

Industry experience

  • Exopharm Ltd (2021-current collaboration) 
  • Okairos AG (2008-2013 collaboration) 
  • Genvec Ltd (2008-2013 collaboration)
Web

Research

Dr Kylie Quinn’s current research is focused on understanding how ageing can limit T cell immunity in older individuals and how we might optimise immune function during vaccination and cell-based therapies. 

One key area of research is focused on a new immune cell-based therapy for cancer, called chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CTT). In CTT, a patient’s T cells are activated, modified with a chimeric antigen receptor directed against a tumour-associated antigen, and transferred back into the patient to eliminate malignant cells. It can achieve striking remission rates, but it can be more variable in older patients, as aged T cells become more difficult to activate and T cell function shifts with age. Her work aims to identify what mechanisms limit T cell activation during ageing and to remove that barrier during the CTT protocol, thereby tailoring CTT for older patients. 

Her other key area of research is focused on understanding how to trigger optimal T cell responses through vaccination in older patients. Older individuals tend to have poorer T cell responses to novel infections and vaccines due to deficits in naïve T cell populations. They can also have reduced responses to previously encountered pathogens due to changes in memory T cell composition and quality. Her work aims to identify optimal mechanisms of adjuvancy and other adjunct therapeutics to improve vaccine responses in older patients. 

Research keywords

Ageing, Cancer, Vaccine, Immunology, T cell

Research output summary

41

Publications

12

Projects

13

Awards

Web

Supervisor interest areas

  • Ageing 
  • Cancer Immunology 
  • Vaccine Immunology 

Supervisor projects

  • Biomarkers for Age-Related Dysfunction in Cell-Based Therapies (Senior supervisor, RMIT) 
  • Age-Related Dysfunction in T cell subsets for Cell-Based Therapies (Senior supervisor, RMIT) 
  • Impact of Ageing on T Cell Recruitment to Tumors (Senior supervisor, RMIT) 
  • Host Erythrocyte Signaling as a Target for Novel Antimalarials (Co-supervisor, RMIT) 
  • Development and Maintenance of Virtual Memory CD8 T Cells During Ageing and Infection (Co-supervisor, Monash) 

Feature publications

Metabolic Characteristics of Young and Aged CD8+ T cell Subsets Do Not Predict Functionality. 

Nature Communications, 11: 2857 

Quinn KM, Hussain T, Kraus F, Formosa LE, Lam WK, Dagley MJ, Saunders EC, Assmus LM, Wynne-Jones E, Cooper L, Good-Jacobson KL, Kedzierska K, Mackay LK, McConville MJ, Ramm G, Ryan MT and La Gruta NL (2020). 

Age-Related Decline in Primary CD8+ T Cell Responses is Associated with the Development of Senescence in Virtual Memory CD8+ T Cells. 

Cell Reports, 2018, 23: 3512-24 

Quinn KM, Fox A, Harland KL, Russ BE, Li J, Nguyen THO, Loh L, Olshanksy M, Naeem H, Tsyganov K, Wiede F, Webster R, Blyth C, Sng XYX, Tiganis T, Powell D, Doherty PC, Turner SJ, Kedzierska K and La Gruta NL (2018). 

Antigen expression determines adenoviral vaccine potency independent of IFN or STING signalling. 

Journal of Clinical Investigations, 125: 1129-46

Quinn KM, Zak DE, Costa A, Yamamoto A, Kastenmuller K, Hill BJ, Lynn GM, Darrah PA, Lindsay RW, Wang L, Cheng C, Nicosia A, Folgori A, Colloca S, Cortese R, Gostick E, Price DA, Gall JG, Roederer M, Aderem A, Seder RA (2015).

Key publications by year

  • Mehta PH, Fiorenza S, Koldej RM, Jaworowski A, Ritchie DS, Quinn KM (2021). T cell fitness and autologous CAR T cell therapy in haematologic malignancy. Front Immunol. In press 
  • Cossarizza A, et al (2021). Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies (version 3). Eur J Immunol. In press. 
  • Sominsky L, Younesi S, De Luca SN, Loone SM, Quinn KM, Spencer SJ. Ovarian follicles are resistant to monocyte perturbations-implications for ovarian health with immune disruption. Biol Reprod., 105: 100. 

  • Cooke RE, Quinn KM, Quach H, Harrison S, Prince HM, Koldej R, Ritchie D. Conventional Treatment for Multiple Myeloma Drives Premature Aging Phenotypes and Metabolic Dysfunction in T Cells. Front Immunol. 2020, 11: 2153. 
  • Quinn KM, Kartikasari AER, Cooke RE, Koldej RM, Ritchie DS, Plebanski M. Impact of age-, cancer-, and treatment-driven inflammation on T cell function and immunotherapy. J Leukoc Biol, 2020, doi: 10.1002/JLB.5MR0520-466R. 
  • Quinn KM*, Hussain T, Kraus F, Formosa LE, Lam WK, Dagley MJ, Saunders EC, Assmus LM, Wynne-Jones E, Cooper L, Good-Jacobson KL, Kedzierska K, Mackay LK, McConville MJ, Ramm G, Ryan MT and La Gruta NL. Metabolic Characteristics of Young and Aged CD8+ T cell Subsets Do Not Predict Functionality. 2020, Nat Comms 11: 2857. 
  • Quinn KM, Hussain T. Bystanders or Real Players: Virtual Memory T Cells Keep Chronic Infection in Check. Cell Mol Immunol. 2020, 17: 797. 
  • Quinn KM, Linterman MA. Senescence Blurs the Line Between Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells. Immunol Cell Biol. 2020, 98: 431. 
  • Quinn KM. Innovative Approaches to Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer. J Thor Disease. 2020 12: 4536. 
  • Sng XYX, Li J, Zareie P, Assmus LM, Lee JKC, Jones CM, Turner SJ, Daley SR, Quinn KM, La Gruta NL. The Impact of MHC Class I Dose on Development and Maintenance of the Polyclonal Naive CD8+ T Cell Repertoire. J Immunol. 2020 204: 3108. 
  • Hun ML, Wong K, Gunawan JR, Alsharif A, Quinn K, Chidgey AP. Gender Disparity Impacts on Thymus Aging and LHRH Receptor Antagonist-Induced Thymic Reconstitution Following Chemotherapeutic Damage. Front Immunol. 2020, 11: 302. 
  • Loh L, Gherardin NA, Sant S, Grzelak L, Crawford JC, Bird NL, Koay HF, van de Sandt CE, Moreira ML, Lappas M, Allen EK, Crowe J, Loudovaris T, Flanagan KL, Quinn KM, Rossjohn J, Thomas PG, Eckle SBG, McCluskey J, Godfrey DI, Kedzierska K. Human Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in Older Individuals Display Expanded TCRαβ Clonotypes with Potent Antimicrobial Responses. J Immunol. 2020, 204:1119-33. 
  • Pépin G, De Nardo D, Rootes C, Ullah T, Al-Asmari S, Balka K, Li H-M, Quinn KM, Moghaddas F, Chappaz S, Kile B, Morand E, Masters S, Stewart C, Williams B, Gantier M. Connexin-dependent transfer of cGAMP to phagocytes modulates antiviral responses, mBio. 2020, 11: e03187-19. 
  • Smith CJ, Venturi V, Quigley MF, Turula H, Gostick E, Ladell K, Hill BJ, Himelfarb D, Quinn KM, Greenaway HY, Dang THY, Seder RA, Douek DC, Hill AB, Davenport MP, Price DA, Snyder CM. Stochastic Expansions Maintain the Clonal Stability of CD8+ T Cell Populations Undergoing Memory Inflation Driven by Murine Cytomegalovirus. J Immunol, 2020, 204: 112-21. 
  • Mangas KM, Buultjens AH, Porter JL, Baines SL, Marion E, Marsollier L, Tobias NJ, Pidot SJ, Quinn KM, Price DJ, Kedzierska K, Zeng W, Jackson DC, Chua BY, Stinear TP. Vaccine-specific immune responses against Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in a low-dose murine challenge model. Infect Immun. 2020, 88: e00753-19. 

  • Quinn KM, Palchaudhuri R, Palmer CS, La Gruta NL. The clock is ticking: the impact of ageing on T cell metabolism. Clin Trans Immunol. 2019, 8: e01091. 
  • von Scheidt B, Wang M, Oliver AJ, Chan JD, Jana MK, Ali AI, Clow F, Fraser JD, Quinn KM, Darcy PK, Kershaw MH, Slaney CY. Enterotoxins can support CAR T cells against solid tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019, 116, 25229-35. 
  • Cossarizza A, et al. Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies. Eur J Immunol, 2019, 10, 1457-1973 . 
  • Kirman JR, Quinn KM, Seder RA. Immunological memory. Immunol Cell Biol. 2019, 97: 615-6 
  • Hussain T, Quinn KM. Similar but different: virtual memory CD8 T cells as a memory-like cell population. Immunol Cell Biol. 2019, 97: 675-84. 
  • Cullen JG, McQuilten HA, Quinn KM, Olshansky M, Russ BE, Morey A, Wei S, Prier JE, La Gruta NL, Doherty PC, Turner SJ. CD4+ T help promotes influenza virus-specific CD8+ T cell memory by limiting metabolic dysfunction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019, 116: 4481-8. 

  • Fox A, Quinn KM, Subbarao K. Extending the Breadth of Influenza Vaccines: Status and Prospects for a Universal Vaccine. Drugs, 2018, 78: 1297-308. 
  • Quinn KM, Fox A, Harland KL, Russ BE, Li J, Nguyen THO, Loh L, Olshanksy M, Naeem H, Tsyganov K, Wiede F, Webster R, Blyth C, Sng XYX, Tiganis T, Powell D, Doherty PC, Turner SJ, Kedzierska K and La Gruta NL. Age-Related Decline in Primary CD8+ T Cell Responses is Associated with the Development of Senescence in Virtual Memory CD8+ T Cells. Cell Reports, 2018, 23: 3512-24 

  • Quinn KM, Kan W-T, Watson KA, Liddicoat BJ, Swan NG, McQuilten H, Denton AE, Li J, Chen W, Brown LE, Jackson DC, Reading PC, Doherty PC, Kedzierska K, Kedzierski L, Turner SJ, La Gruta NL. Extrinsically derived TNF is primarily responsible for limiting antiviral CD8+ T cell response magnitude. PLoS One, 2017, 12: e0184732. 
  • Yan AW, Cao P, Heffernan JM, McVernon J, Quinn KM, La Gruta NL, Laurie KL, McCaw JM. Modelling cross-reactivity and memory in the cellular adaptive immune response to influenza infection in the host. J Theor Biol, 2017, 413: 34-49. 

  • Gras S, Chadderton J, Del Campo CM, Farenc C, Wiede F, Josephs TM, Sng XY, Mirams M, Watson KA, Tiganis T, Quinn KM, Rossjohn J, La Gruta NL. Reversed T cell receptor docking on a major histocompatibility class I complex limits involvement in the immune response. Immunity, 2016, 45: 749-60. 
  • Roychoudhuri R, Clever D, Li P, Wakabayashi Y, Quinn KM, Klebanoff C, Ji Y, Sukumar M, Eil R, Yu Z, Spolski R, Palmer D, Pan J, Patel S, Macallan D, Fabozzi G, Shih H-Y, Kanno Y, Muto A, Zhu J, Gattinoni L, O'Shea J, Okkenhaug K, Igarashi R, Restifo N. BACH2 regulates CD8+ T cell differentiation by controlling access of AP-1 factors to enhancers. Nat Immunol, 2016, 17: 851-60. 
  • Quinn KM, Zaloumis SG, Cukalac T, Kan W-T, Sng XYX, Mirams M, Watson KA, McCaw JM, Doherty PC, Thomas PG, Handel A, La Gruta NL. Heightened self-reactivity associated with selective survival, but not expansion, of naïve virus-specific CD8+ T cells in aged mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2016, 113: 1333-8. 

  • Quinn KM, Zak DE, Costa A, Yamamoto A, Kastenmuller K, Hill BJ, Lynn GM, Darrah PA, Lindsay RW, Wang L, Cheng C, Nicosia A, Folgori A, Colloca S, Cortese R, Gostick E, Price DA, Gall JG, Roederer M, Aderem A, Seder RA. Antigen expression determines adenoviral vaccine potency independent of IFN or STING signalling. J Clin Invest, 2015, 125: 1129-46. 
  • Lynn GM, Laga R, Darrah PA, Ishizuka AS, Balaci AJ, Dulcey AE, Pechar M, Pola R, Gerner MY, Yamamoto A, Buechler CR, Quinn KM, Smelkinson MG, Vanek O, Cawood R, Hills T, Vasalatiy O, Kastenmüller K, Francica JR, Stutts L, Tom JK, Ryu KA, Esser-Kahn AP, Etrych T, Fisher KD, Seymour LW, Seder RA. In vivo characterization of the physicochemical properties of polymer-linked TLR agonists that enhance vaccine immunogenicity. Nat Biotechnol, 2015, 33: 1201-10. 
  • Thompson EA, Liang F, Lindgren G, Sandgren KJ, Quinn KM, Darrah PA, Koup RA, Seder RA, Kedl RM, Loré K. Human anti-CD40 antibody and poly IC:LC adjuvant combination induces potent T cell responses in the lung of nonhuman primates. J Immunol, 2015, 195: 1015-24. 
  • Cukalac T, Kan WT, Dash P, Guan J, Quinn KM, Gras S, Thomas PG, La Gruta NL. Paired TCRαβ analysis of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells exposes diversity in a previously defined 'narrow' repertoire. Immunol Cell Biol, 2015, 93: 804-14. 
  • Zanker D, Quinn K, Waithman J, Lata R, Murphy R, La Gruta NL, Chen W. T cells recognizing a 11mer influenza peptide complexed to H-2D(b) show promiscuity for peptide length. Immunol Cell Biol, 2015, 93: 500-7. 

  • Hill BJ, Darrah PA, Ende Z, Ambrozak DR, Quinn KM, Darko S, Gostick E, Wooldridge L, van den Berg HA, Venturi V, Larsen M, Davenport MP, Seder RA, Price DA, Douek DC. Epitope specificity delimits the functional capabilities of vaccine-induced CD8 T cell populations. J Immunol, 2014, 193: 5626-36. 

  • Quinn KM, Yamamoto A, Costa A, Darrah PA, Lindsay RW, Hegde ST, Johnson TR, Flynn BJ, Loré K, Seder RA. Coadministration of Polyinosinic:Polycytidylic Acid and Immunostimulatory Complexes Modifies Antigen Processing in Dendritic Cell Subsets and Enhances HIV Gag-Specific T Cell Immunity. J Immunol, 2013, 191: 5085-96. 
  • Quinn KM, Da Costa A, Yamamoto A, Berry D, Lindsay RW, Darrah PA, Wang L, Cheng C, Kong WP, Gall JG, Nicosia A, Folgori A, Colloca S, Cortese R, Gostick E, Price DA, Gomez CE, Esteban M, Wyatt LS, Moss B, Morgan C, Roederer M, Bailer RT, Nabel GJ, Koup RA, Seder RA. Comparative analysis of the magnitude, quality, phenotype, and protective capacity of simian immunodeficiency virus gag-specific CD8+ T cells following human-, simian-, and chimpanzee-derived recombinant adenoviral vector immunization. J Immunol, 2013, 190: 2720-35. 
  • Quigley MF, Greenaway HY, Venturi V, Lindsay R, Quinn KM, Seder RA, Douek DC, Davenport MP, Price DA. Convergent Recombination Shapes the Clonotypic Landscape of the Naive T Cell Repertoire. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2010, 107: 19414-9. 
  • Lindsay RW, Darrah PA, Quinn KM, Wille-Reece U, Mattei LM, Iwasaki A, Kasturi SP, Pulendran B, Gall JG, Spies AG, Seder RA. CD8+ T Cell Responses Following Replication-Defective Adenovirus Serotype 5 Immunization are Dependent on CD11c+ Dendritic Cells but Show Redundancy in Their Requirement of TLR and Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain-Like Receptor Signaling. J Immunol, 2010, 185: 1513-21. 
  • Connor LM, Harvie MC, Rich FJ, Quinn KM, Brinkmann V, Le Gros G, Kirman JR. A Key Role for Lung Resident Memory Lymphocytes in Protective Immune Responses After BCG Vaccination. Eur J Immunol, 2010, 40: 2482-92. 

  • Quinn KM, Rich FJ, Goldsack LM, de Lisle GW, Buddle BM, Delahunt B, Kirman JR, Accelerating the Secondary Immune Response by Inactivating CD4+CD25+ T Regulatory Cells Prior to BCG Vaccination Does Not Enhance Protection Against Tuberculosis. Eur J Immunol, 2008, 38: 695-705. 

  • Quinn K M, McHugh RS, Rich FJ, Goldsack LM, de Lisle GW, Buddle BM, Delahunt B, Kirman JR, Inactivation of CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells During Early Mycobacterial Infection Increases Cytokine Production But Does Not Affect Pathogen Load. Immunol Cell Biol, 2006, 84: 467-474.
Web

Feature projects

Tailoring the Next Generation of Cancer Treatment for an Older Generation of Patients

Quinn KM; Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation Medical Research Grant

2019 - 2021

Identifying novel targets for treating the diseases of the brain: microglial metabolism as a treatment option

Sominsky L, Quinn KM, Spencer S; CASS Foundation Medical Research Grant

2021 

Chimeric next generation COVID vaccines

Kent S, Munro T, Subbarao K, Lickliter J, Wheatley A, Juno J Tham W-H, Quinn KM, Tan H-X; Medical Research Future Fund

2021 - 2025

Key projects by year

  • Chimeric next generation COVID vaccines, Kent S, Munro T, Subbarao K, Lickliter J, Wheatley A, Juno J Tham W-H, Quinn KM, Tan H-X; Medical Research Future Fund (2021-2025)
  • Identifying novel targets for treating the diseases of the brain: microglial metabolism as a treatment option, Sominsky L, Quinn KM, Spencer S; CASS Foundation Medical Research Grant (2021)

  • Tailoring the Next Generation of Cancer Treatment for an Older Generation of Patients, Quinn KM; Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation Medical Research Grant (2019-2021)
Web

Awards


RMIT Rising Media Star Award

Award date: 2020

Recipients: Kylie Quinn

Jared Purton Award for an emerging researcher in immunology (Australia and New Zealand Society of Immunology)

Award date: 2019

Recipients: Kylie Quinn

John and Eileen Haddon Award for geriatrics research with the Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation

Award date: 2019

Recipients: Kylie Quinn

Key awards by year

  • Australia & New Zealand Society of Immunology (ASI) Public Engagement Award, 2021.
  • RMIT University STEM College Impact Award for public outreach on COVID vaccination, 2021.

  • RMIT Rising Media Star Award, 2020.

  • John and Eileen Haddon Award for geriatrics research with the Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation, 2019.
  • ASI Jared Purton Award for an Emerging Researcher in Immunology, 2019.

  • Best Oral Presentation Prize for Infection and Immunity Workshop at the ASI Annual Meeting, Brisbane, Australia, 2017.
  • Best Oral Presentation Prize at the Ageing Cell Conference, Cambridge, UK, 2017.

  • Best Oral Presentation Prize for Infection and Immunity Workshop at the Australasian Society of Immunology (ASI) Annual Meeting, Canberra, Australia, 2015.

  • Selected participant at the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery Annual Meeting for Young and Early Career Investigators. Selected by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; all costs covered, 2012.

  • US National Institutes of Health Fellows Award for Research Excellence, 2011.
  • Selected participant at the Adjuvants and HIV Vaccine Development Workshop for Young and Early Career Investigators. Selected by the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise with OCTAVE; all costs covered, 2011.

  • Todd Foundation Award for Excellence, 2007.
  • Best Oral Presentation Prize at the Immunet 2007 Meeting, Wellington, NZ, 2007. 

  • Runner-up for Advancing Human Health Category in MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year Awards. For communication of scientific concepts to the general public, 2006.
Web

Grants

  • Chimeric next generation COVID vaccines; Funded by: Medical Research Future Fund Vaccine Candidate Scheme; Kent S, Munro T, Subbarao K, Lickliter J, Wheatley A, Juno J Tham W-H, Quinn KM, Tan H-X; (2021-2025)
  • Identifying novel targets for treating the diseases of the brain: microglial metabolism as a treatment option; Funded by: CASS Foundation Medical Research Grant; Sominsky L, Quinn KM, Spencer S (2020)
  • RMIT University Vice-Chancellor’s Fellowship; Funded by: RMIT University; Quinn KM (2019-2023)
  • Tailoring the Next Generation of Cancer Treatment for an Older Generation of Patients; Funded by: Rebecca L Cooper Foundation Medical Research Grant; Quinn KM (2019-2021)
  • Machine-based learning to develop prognostics of CAR T cell outcomes in older patients; Funded by: Maxwell Eagle Endowment Grant for Cancer Research; Quinn KM, Gelmi A, Jelfs B, Fleiss B, Hudson I (2020-2021) 
Web

Public and media engagements

2020-21

  •  Interviewed >10 times for TV media on vaccine development on ABC News TV, SBS and Channel 10 
  •  Interviewed for >100 articles for print or online media on vaccine development across the ABC, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, the Australian, the South China Morning Post and other outlets. 
  •  Interviewed for >30 radio interviews across ABC, RRR, 2NM and 3CR. 
  • Authored over 20 articles for The Conversation with nearly 2.5 million reads.
  •  Interviewed on 'Life Matters' ABC Radio show with Hilary Harper on COVID vaccine development; 
  •  Interviewed on ABC podcast “The Signal”, exploring the emerging evidence of a rare blood clotting condition linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine
  • Invited blogger on the ABC live Blog alongside Sophie Scott and Dr Norman Swan on COVID vaccines
  • Invited panelist for the ASI Day of Immunology event (community talk) on vaccination
  • Invited featured speaker for the ASI Fireside Chat (community talk) on vaccination
  • Advised on a glossary of vaccine-related terms to published on the websites of the Immunisation Advisory Council of New Zealand and the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (co-ordinated by A/Prof Holly Seale)
  • Consulted on text and storyboarding for video media pieces with ABC by Sophie Scott and Andrew George, and consulted on text and storyboarding for an article by ABC Digital Media on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines titled “The Virus and the Vaccine”

2020

2019

  • Invited community talk at “Nerd Nite” – Talk title: #LiveYourBestLife
  • Invited community talk at “Pint of Science Australia” – Talk title: #LiveYourBestLife 

2018

  • Guest on the Einstein-A-Go-Go Show on RRR Radio on immune ageing.
  • “Breakthrough may lead to new cancer treatment being tailored to patient’s age” by Lucie Van Den Berg. An interview with the Herald Sun, where I discussed our paper currently in press on the impact of ageing and inflammation on CD8 T cells.

2017

  • Guest Scientist at Nossal High School for a “Meet the Scientists” lunch.
  • “Should you get a flu shot” by Bianca Soldani. An interview with Yahoo Be 7 in the Lifestyle column, where I advocated that flu vaccines protect both the vaccinee and more vulnerable groups within society.

2016

  •  Invited community talk at Montmorency Primary School – Talk title: How are you a scientist?

2015

  •  Invited community talk at “Nerd Nite” for their “Best of the Best” night – Talk title: Beginners Guide to Making a Vaccine
  •  Invited community talk at St Charles Borromeo Primary School – Talk title: How are you a scientist? 
  •  Vaccine Expert at the Vaccine Café event, “Day of Immunology”

2014

  • Invited community talk at “Nerd Nite” – Talk title: Beginners Guide to Making a Vaccine
  • Invited community talk at Kew Primary School – Talk title: What’s it like to be a scientist?
  • Vaccine Expert at the Vaccine Café event, “Day of Immunology”
Web
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.