Branka Grubor-Bauk

Associate Professor Branka Grubor-Bauk

Externally-Funded Research Fellow (D)

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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


A/Prof Grubor-Bauk is the Head of Viral Immunology Group at the Adelaide Medical School. She trained as a virologist, immunologist, and vaccine scientist and after postdoctoral training and a period in Biotech, she now leads a collaborative research program which encompasses discovery and translational science components. 

Multidisciplinary approach of our group covers areas of translational immunology and vaccine development. We collaborate and work closely with clinician scientists in the areas of long COVID and sepsis. The group is focussed on development of novel vaccines and vaccine platforms against various pathogens, for human and veterinary use. Recently we have expanded our research portfolio into development of novel mRNA vaccines in cancer therapy, as well as in prevention of bacterial infections.

We are also involved in different commercial research partnerships, with an aim to develop solutions with clinical application. 

Student projects

We have various student projects available for Honours, Masters and PhD studies. The projects cover vaccine development (mRNA, DNA) with options for cross-discipline and industry collaborations. Please see the list below for currently available projects. 

Prospective students can contact Branka directly via email. 

Prerequisite: Students should have sound knowledge of immunology in order to undertake these projects. 

 

Available projects: 

1) Development of multivalent mRNA vaccines 

2) Novel mRNA-LNP formulations for optimal vaccine immunogenicity 

3) mRNA-LNP biodistribution and tissue targeting 

4) Novel mRNA vaccines in cancer therapy

5) Development of mRNA vaccines for induction of gamma delta T cell immunity 

6) Liver immunobiology in HCV vaccine development 

7) mRNA vaccines against Staph aureus

8) Murray Valley encephalitis virus vaccine development

9) Biomarkers of sepsis and in hospital mortality in ICU patients

10) Biomarkers of Long COVID

11) Innate immunity and LNP/mRNA formulations

12) Impact of prior dengue virus infection on Zika virus infection during pregnancy

 

  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    English -
    Serbian -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2007 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia PhD
    1999 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours)
    1998 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science

2019             B Grubor-Bauk, EJ Gowans, DK Wijesundara ($200,000) "A novel Zika virus DNA vaccine that provides complete protection from infection." Commercial Accelerator Scheme, Adelaide Enterprise, University of Adelaide and The Hospital Research Foundation

2019             B Grubor-Bauk "Barbara Kidman Women's Fellowship" ($60,000). University of Adelaide and The Hospital Research Foundation

2019             DK Wijesundara, EJ Gowans, S Robertson, B Grubor-Bauk, A Shrestha "A pre-clinical evaluation of an innovative DNA-based vaccination regimen to protect women of childbearing age against Zika virus during sexual transmission." Ch7 Children's Research Foundation and The Hospital Research Foundation ($200,000)

2018               Z Kopecki, B Grubor-Bauk, KA Fenix, D Wijesundara, A Cowin ($28,619) "Identification of a diagnostic marker for assessment and management  of psoriasis. New Adventures Fund UniSA and The Hospital Research Foundation 

2018                 EJ Gowans, B Grubor-Bauk, D Wijesundara, N Eyre ($88,000)  "HCV challenge studies in vaccinated mice’ . Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research (ACH2).

2016-2018        EJ Gowans, B Grubor-Bauk, D Wijesundara. ($293,880):  A DNA vaccine for Zika virus. National Foundation for Medical Research and  Innovation (NFMRI)

2017                 EJ Gowans, B Grubor-Bauk, D Wijesundara ($85,000) A multigenotypic HCV DNA Vaccine. Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research (ACH2)

2016-2017        EJ Gowans, B Grubor-Bauk, D Wijesundara ($100,000) "A DNA vaccine to induce protective neutralizing antibodies to the HIV Tat protein." The Hospital Research Foundation

2014                EJ Gowans, B Grubor-Bauk ($100,000) "Optimisation of HCV vaccine design."  The Hospital Research Foundation .

2014-2015        EJ Gowans, I Roberts-Thomson, B Grubor-Bauk ($300, 000). “DNA vaccine therapy for HCV.” The Hospital Research Foundation .

2012-2013        E.J. Gowans and B Grubor-Bauk 2012/2013 ($174,000) “Development of a cytolytic HCV vaccine and a novel challenge model to test efficacy.”  Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research (ACH2).

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

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Harnessing the potential of mRNA vaccines against Hepatitis C Virus Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr John Henrik Johansson
    2024 Principal Supervisor This project will develop different mouse models of Zika infection in pregnancy and evaluate the efficacy in protection of different vaccine candidates Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Deborah Pratt
    2023 Co-Supervisor The Effect of Sirolimus on Enhancing COVID-19 Vaccine Response in Transplant Recipients Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Cheng Sheng Chai
    2022 Principal Supervisor A Trivalent Vaccine for Clinically-Important Flaviviruses. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ryan Santos
    2021 Principal Supervisor The development of 'next generation' DNA-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Zahraa Nima Saeed Al-Delfi
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2015 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Strategies for the development of recombinant porcine adenovirus-based vaccines against Hepatitis C virus. Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Mr Harshwardhan Jagdale
    2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Pre-Clinical Evaluation of a Vaccination Strategy to Induce Liver Resident Memory T Cells against Hepatitis C Virus Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Zelalem Addis Mekonnen
    2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Novel DNA Vaccine Formulations Against Hepatitis C Virus Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Makutiro Ghislain Masavuli
    2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Novel Recombinant DNA and Live Virus Vaccines to Prevent or Control HIV-1 Infection Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Khamis Tomusange
    2012 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Evaluating the Immuno-modulatory Effects of a Natural Adjuvant as a Novel Vaccine Strategy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Tamsin Jade Garrod
    2012 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Optimising DNA vaccine technology to prevent HIV-1 Infection Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Tessa Gargett
    2012 - 2017 Co-Supervisor The Development of a Multi-Antigenic Cytolytic DNA Vaccine against HCV Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jason Anthony Gummow
    2010 - 2012 Co-Supervisor Suicide Genes in a Novel Vaccination Strategy for Hepatitis C Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Hugh Francis Trahair
  • Position: Externally-Funded Research Fellow (D)
  • Phone: 82227368
  • Email: branka.grubor@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 82227872
  • Campus: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • Building: QEH- Basil Hetzel Institute, floor 1
  • Org Unit: Surgical Specialities

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