Michael Beard

Professor Michael Beard

Professor

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Associate Professor Michael Beard is head of the Viral Pathogenesis Research Laboratory (VPRL) at The University of Adelaide. He completed his PhD in molecular virology from the University of Queensland and after working in the USA with Stanley Lemon at UNC Chapel Hill he returned to Adelaide in 2002 and established the VPRL that focuses on the development of model systems to study complex cellular virus interactions with the ultimate aim to develop novel therapeutic strategies and understand how viruses cause disease. He has been continually funded by the NHMRC for 18 years. A main focus of his laboratory is the study of positive strand RNA viruses of the Flaviviridae family such as hepatitis C virus and other closely related viruses such as Dengue, West Nile Virus and more recently Zika virus. In particular his laboratory is interested in the innate immune response to viral infection and the host antiviral response through the expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs). Current projects use cutting edge molecular techniques such as, (i) CRISPR-related genome wide screens to identify novel host factors involved in viral life-cycles, (ii) development of human liver organoid cultures as a model of HBV infection and (iii) characterisation of the novel female hormonally regulated, interferon-epsilon in control of sexual transmission of ZIKV infection of the FRT and the development of novel therapeutics to modulate the innate immune environment of the FRT to limit sexually transmitted infections.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2020 - ongoing Head of Department, Molecular and Biomedical Science The University of Adelaide
    2016 - ongoing Faculty Member SAHMRI
    2012 - ongoing Associate Professor The University of Adelaide
    2010 - 2015 NHMRC Senior Reearch Fellow The University of Adelaide
    2005 - 2009 NHMRC RD Wright Research Fellow SA Pathology
    2002 - 2004 Royal Adelaide Hospital Florey Fellow Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science
    2000 - 2002 Assistant Professor (Research) The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
    1997 - 1999 Postdoctoral Scientist University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
    1996 - 1997 Postdoctoral Scientist University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1996 The University of Queensland Australia PhD
    1992 The University of Adelaide Australia BSc (Hons)
    1983 - 1986 University of South Australia Australia Associate Diploma in Medical laboratory Science
  • Research Interests

 

2020.               Beard M; Lim C; Warner N.  Liver organoid culture as a platform for novel HBV antiviral testing. Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research. $85,000.00

2020-2022       Doonan C; Sumby C; Bell S; Beard M; Falcaro P.  Advancing the Chemistry of Metal-organic Frameworks for Biotechnology. ARC DP200102411. $550,000.00

2018-2020.     Beard, Helbig, Lemon, Eyre. NHMRC Project Grant APP1145613.  The interplay between viperin, peroxisomes and the cellular innate antiviral response. $556,127

2014-2018       Lloyd, Dore, George, Beard.  NHMRC Program Grant APP1053206. Title: Hepatitis C infection: epidemiology pathogenesis    and treatment. $5,427,855.00

2015-2016       KJ Helbig, MR Beard, P Revill, P Thomas. Targeting HBV cccDNA using the CRISPR/Cas system. $169,000. Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research

2010-2015       Beard M. NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship $560,000 total

2009-2013       Cooper, Beard, Dore, Emery, French, Kelleher, Kent, Purcell.  NHMRC Program Grant #510448. Title: HIV and HCV Vaccines and Immunopathogenesis.  $17,800,000 ($395,000/year/investigator)      

2012-2014       Michael Beard, Nicholas Eyre and Stuart Turville. (2012-2014) Imaging the hepatitis C virus life cycle in living cells.  NHMRC Project Grant  APP1027641  Total: $461,325.000

2012                Michael Beard, Jill Carr and Stephen Locarnini. Analysis of Boceprevir drug susceptibility and resistance in HCV genotype 6. Merck Investigator Studies Program $115,000

2011-2012       Beard M and Locarnini S. Phase II. Development of a laboratory based platform to manage patients who develop antiviral drug-resistance to the STAT-C compounds. ACH2 $113,000 tot

2010-2011       Beard M and Locarnini S. Development of a laboratory based platform to manage patients who develop antiviral drug-resistance to the STAT-C compounds. ACH2 $142,000 total

2010-2011       Beard M and Shackel N. Ultra-deep sequencing of hepatitis C and hepatocytes following interferon exposure Roche Pillar Award. $40,000 total

2008-2010       Beard M & Helbig K. NHMRC Project Grant # 508088  Identification of interferon stimulated genes that limit HCV replication and predict therapeutic outcome. $468,750 total

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Harnessing the potential of mRNA vaccines against Hepatitis C Virus Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr John Henrik Johansson
    2022 Principal Supervisor CRISPR Screening Systems to Identify Novel Virus-Host Interactions and Innate Immune Pathways Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Xavier Bernard Montin
    2021 Principal Supervisor The Impact of Hypoxia on Flavivirus Infection and Innate Immune Responses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Brooke Nyree Trowbridge
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Identification of dengue virus (DENV) NS1 protein residues involved in its cellular secretion and host factors involved in NS1 protein N-glycosylation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Eng Kuan Brandon Tan
    2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor CRISPR Activation as a Tool to Identify Anti-viral Host Factors Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Emily Nicole Kirby
    2018 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Molecular Characterisation of Flavivirus Interactions with the Host Innate Immune Response Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Rosa Cedar Coldbeck-Shackley
    2017 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Human Liver Organoids Culture as a Personalised Approach in Assessing HBV Infection and Cellular Responses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Chuan Kok Lim
    2017 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Sterility and Immunogenicity of Gamma Irradiated Respiratory Viruses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Eve Victoria Singleton
    2015 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Identification of Proviral and Host Restriction Factors that Impact the Flaviviridae Lifecycle Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Byron Shue
    2013 - 2018 Principal Supervisor The Novel Interacting Partners of Viperin and their Role in Establishing a Host Antiviral State Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Onruedee Khantisitthiporn
    2011 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Defining and Characterising the anti-HCV Actions of the Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Proteins Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sumudu Kumari Narayana
    2011 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Dynamic Imaging of Hepatitis C Virus RNA Localisation and Traffic During Viral Replication Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Guillaume Fiches
    2010 - 2015 Principal Supervisor The Bystander Effect in Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Cellular Interactions Between Infected Cells and Uninfected Cells Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Kate Rebecca Muller
    2009 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Improving treatment predictors of HCV therapy and the impact of steatosis on the hepatocyte transcriptome and anti-HCV action of interferon Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Edmund Yee-Lai Tse
    2007 - 2012 Co-Supervisor Molecular Analysis of Acute and Chronic Duck Hepatitis B Virus (DHBV) Infections in Ducks Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Huey Low
    2007 - 2014 Co-Supervisor DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF NOVEL VACCINATION STRATEGIES FOR HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Devin Teoh
    2006 - 2011 Principal Supervisor Molecular Interactions Between Alcohol, Hepatitis C Virus and Interferon Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Erin McCartney
    2005 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Development of Antiviral Therapies for Hepatitis B Virus Infection Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Faseeha Noordeen
    2004 - 2010 Principal Supervisor Expression and function of osteopontin variants in HCV-related liver disease and hepato-cellular carcinoma Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Renee Phillips
    2004 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Characterisation of the Events Involved in the Resolution of Acute Duck Hepatitis B Virus Infection Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Georget Reaiche
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2015 - ongoing Member Lorne Infection and Immunity Conference - -
    2010 - ongoing Member Organising Committee International Symposium on HCV and Related Viruses - -
  • Editorial Boards

    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2017 - ongoing Associate Editor Virology Journal - -
    2013 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research - -
  • Position: Professor
  • Phone: 83135522
  • Email: michael.beard@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Molecular Life Sciences, floor Third Floor
  • Room: 333
  • Org Unit: Molecular and Biomedical Science

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