Vaccines and Infectious Disease Group
The Vaccines and Infectious Disease Group investigates urgent priorities in infectious disease prevention and includes clinical trials in new vaccines, infectious and social epidemiology, and public health.
We are the only research group in Australia assessing community attitudes to the introduction of new vaccines.
We have been involved in over seventy paediatric, adolescent and adult clinical trials, in the safety and effectiveness of vaccines and infectious disease epidemiology including a landmark study, the largest study of its kind in the world to assess the impact of a meningococcal B vaccine on herd immunity in 35,000 school students in South Australia. Our latest NHMRC funded project is examining whether meningococcal B vaccine can prevent two distinctly different but genetically similar infections—meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea.
The Vaccines and Infectious Disease Group conducts trials at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital as the Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit (VIRTU).
To find out more about current VIRTU studies and whether you or your child is eligible to participate, please visit: www.wch.sa.gov.au/research/about-virtu/current-trials
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Lead researcher
Professor Helen Marshall
Professor Helen Marshall is a clinician and researcher and NHMRC Practitioner Fellow. She is Professor in Vaccinology at Adelaide Medical School and Deputy Director of the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide. Professor Marshall is also a Senior Medical Practitioner and Medical Director of Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit (VIRTU) at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
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Research team
Research team Role Dr Prabha Andraweera Lead, MP3 Network Ms Kate Chadwick Lead, Communications and Partnerships Mrs Michelle Clarke Lead, Laboratory Safety and Quality Ms Natascha D'Angelo Lead, Clinical Research Nursing Dr Sue Evans Lead, Clinical Research Medical Mrs Louise Goodchild Clinical Research Nurse / Midwife Dr Simon Gunn Lead, Business and Finance Dr Dao Huynh Biospecimen Manager Ms Meredith Krieg Clinical Research Nurse Ms Manasa Arani Krishna Executive Assistant Mr Andrew Lawrence Lead, Microbiology and Pathology Ms Donna Martin Clinical Research Nurse Dr Suja Mathew Research team investigator Dr Joshua McDonough Postdoctoral researcher Mr Mark McMillan Lead, Program Evaluation Mr Hassen Mohammed Postdoctoral researcher Ms Gretchen Richardson Clinical Research Nurse Ms Kathryn Riley Lead, Start up and Logistic Ms Lynda Saunders Research scientist and study coordinator Dr Bing Wang Lead, Health Economics -
Partnerships
- Communicable Disease Control Branch, SA Health - South Australia
- Menzies School of Health Research - Northern Territory
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance - New South Wales
- Vaccine Trials Group - Telethon Kids Institute, Western Australia
- Oxford University - Oxford, United Kingdom
- Public Health England - United Kingdom
- NT Health, Northern Territory
- Commonwealth Government
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Related areas of research
Interested in a postgraduate research degree?
We offer exciting opportunities for researchers at the honours, masters and PhD levels. Our research degrees are open to students from a broad range of backgrounds, and range from basic sciences to clinical research. If you are interested in human health, consider furthering your research career with us.
