The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
The Doherty Institute is a world-class institute combining research, teaching, public health and reference laboratory services, diagnostic services and clinical care into infectious diseases and immunity.
The establishment of the Doherty Institute represents a radical change in the capacity of Australia and the world to detect, investigate and respond to existing, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and agents, with a major focus on diseases that pose serious public and global health threats such as influenza, tuberculosis, HIV, viral hepatitis and drug resistant bacteria. The Doherty’s activities are multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral, placing great emphasis on translational research and improving clinical outcomes. Teams of interdisciplinary scientists, clinicians and epidemiologists collaborate on a wide spectrum of activities - from basic immunology and discovery research, to the development of new vaccines and new preventative and treatment methods, to surveillance and investigation of disease outbreaks.
Fiona Russell, The University of Melbourne; John Hart, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and Katherine Gibney, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
The COVID-19 variant responsible for Victoria’s latest outbreak is one of three Indian variant sub-types, which spreads more easily than the original strain. Here’s what we know so far.
Jennifer Juno, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Adam Wheatley, The University of Melbourne
Vaccination is likely to substantially reduce virus transmission by reducing the pool of people who become infected, and reducing virus levels in people who do get infected.
Marios Koutsakos, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Scientists around the world are trying to come up with universal coronavirus vaccines to combat the emergence of variants. But what are these vaccines and are they even possible?
Sheena G. Sullivan, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza and Kanta Subbarao, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Decades of experience with influenza offers insights into how we should handle new SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the threat they pose to vaccine effectiveness.
There are many scientific and ethical challenges ahead. But these types of trials have helped in the development of vaccines against a few diseases. Could they do the same for COVID-19?
Sheena G. Sullivan, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza and Jennifer MacLachlan, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
A man in the Northern Territory recently received a “weak positive” test result for COVID-19. Understanding how coronavirus tests work shows us why this can happen from time to time.
Katherine Gibney, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity; Deborah Williamson, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, and Jodie McVernon, The University of Melbourne
A new test, which can diagnose COVID-19 in 15 minutes, has been approved by the TGA. But it’s no silver bullet.
Deborah Williamson, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity; Allen Cheng, Monash University, and Sharon Lewin, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Saliva testing is less sensitive than a nasal swab. But in the midst of a public health crisis, in some cases a test with slightly reduced sensitivity may be better than no test at all.
Nic Geard, The University of Melbourne; Jodie McVernon, The University of Melbourne, and Katherine Gibney, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Testing and isolating cases only after they develop symptoms might not be enough to prevent further outbreaks of COVID-19. Sentinel surveillance, by testing randomly in the community, can go further.
Katherine Gibney, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Jodie McVernon, The University of Melbourne
Scott Morrison said it will be at least four weeks before any of the current restrictions are eased. There are a few boxes we want to tick before we can start to take a foot off the pedal.
Kylie Quinn, RMIT University and Damian Purcell, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Several potential COVID-19 vaccines are in the pipeline, and Australian scientists are among those contributing to the research efforts. Here’s a look at where the research is at.
Michelle Grattan interviews immunologist and Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty about controlling the coronavirus pandemic, and the prospects of developing a vaccine.
There are three phases to Australia’s response plan. The ‘Initial Action’ stage, the ‘Targeted Action’ stage, and finally, the ‘Standdown’ stage. Right now, we’re in the first.
Quarantine measures on the Diamond Princess cruise ship weren’t effective, suggests new data. So Australian passengers without symptoms are going into quarantine again.
Asha Bowen, Telethon Kids Institute and Steven Tong, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest health challenges of the modern day. It’s especially prevalent, and must be acted on, in Australia’s remote Indigenous communities.
Director, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital and Consultant Physician, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity