Laurence Don Wai Luu

Laurence Luu is a Chancellor's Research Fellow (CPDRF). His current research program investigates chlamydia host-pathogen interactions using a systems biology approach (transcriptomic, proteomic and functional genomics) and new organoid models to better understand how chlamydia infection leads to infertility. This knowledge will be used to develop new interventions to reduce the significant burden of chlamydia.

Prior to joining Prof Huston's group, Laurence completed his PhD in the Evolutionary Microbiology lab under the supervision of Prof. Ruiting Lan and Dr. Sophie Octavia at UNSW. Here, he investigated the evolution of Bordetella pertussis (which causes whooping cough) to vaccines. During his PhD, he discovered new proteomic adaptations that were associated with increased fitness in the current Australian B. pertussis strains circulating. This discovery garnered widespread media attention and led to a national call to improve vaccines for whooping cough.

Laurence continued his research at UNSW as a postdoctoral researcher in A/Prof Natalia Castaño Rodríguez's and A/Prof. Nadeem Kaakoush's research group where he investigated how interactions between host immunogenetics and the microbiome can lead to cancers of the gastrointestinal tract and inflammatory bowel diseases.