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 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. Viral Immunology group is involved in a number of different commercial research partnerships, with an aim to develop solutions with clinical application.
The lab is focused on evaluation of immunity to viral infections and on the development of novel vaccines against Zika virus, hepatitis C, JEV, WNV and dengue- as well as SARS-CoV-2, employing various cutting edge techniques in viral vaccine design and development.
Our team has broad experience in animal models, including infection models, in vitro and in vivo vaccine validation assays (antigen presentation, B, T cell assays, in vivo epitope mapping, fluorescent target array assay), multi-parametric flow cytometry, antibody and cytokine assays (ELISA, neutralisation assays, intracellular cytokine staining).
Student projects
Viral Immunology Group has student projects available for Honours, Masters and PhD studies. The projects cover vaccine development (mRNA, DNA) with options for cross-discipline and industry collaborations. Other projects focus on pathology of Zika virus during pregnancy and development of novel vaccines to prevent Zika virus induced congenital fetal malformations. Immunology projects are done in collaboration with various clinicians and scientists and are focused on investigations into long COVID and different aspects of COVID-19 immunity in severely ill patients, convalescent, vaccinated and immunocompromised individuals.
Prospective students can contact Branka directly via email with any further questions. Students should have sound knowledge of immunology in order to undertake these projects.
Available projects:
1) Development of multivalent mRNA vaccines against HCV
2) Liver immunobiology in HCV vaccine development
3) Murray Valley encephalitis virus vaccine development
4) Novel mRNA-LNP formulations for optimal vaccine immunogenicity and tissue targeting
5) Immunopathogenesis of Zika virus in animal models of pregnancy
6) COVID-19 Clinical Immunology projects:
- Long-COVID,
- severe/critical COVID19
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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
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Journals
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2017 Tomusange, K., Wijesundara, D., Gowans, E., & Grubor-Bauk, B. (2017). Human rhinovirus-A1 as an expression vector. In M. C. Ferran, & G. R. Skuse (Eds.), Recombinant Virus Vaccines: Methods and Protocols (Vol. 1581, pp. 181-201). UK: Humana Press.
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2024 Chai, C. S., Perkins, G. B., Tunbridge, M., Hope, C., Yeow, A., Salehi, T., . . . Coates, T. (2024). Rapamycin diversifies SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell memory with stem cell phenotype in immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients.. In TRANSPLANTATION Vol. 108 (pp. 89). TURKEY, Istanbul: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2022 Tunbridge, M. J., Perkins, G., Salehi, T., Grubor-Bauk, B., Sim, B., Ying, T., . . . Coates, P. T. (2022). A Prospective Randomised, Controlled Trial Switching Sirolimus for Mycophenolate to Enhance Immunological Responses to Third Dose COVID-19 Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Recipients with Poor Baseline Humoral Immunity. In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION Vol. 22 (pp. 1095). ELECTR NETWORK: WILEY. 2022 Perkins, G. B., Tunbridge, M., Salehi, T., Chai, C., Hope, C. M., Garcia-Valtanen, P., . . . Coates, P. (2022). Sirolimus Use is Associated with an Improved Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Recipients. In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION Vol. 22 (pp. 873). WILEY. 2016 Wijesundara, D., Grubor-Bauk, B., Gargett, T., Yu, W., & Gowans, E. (2016). A cytolytic DNA vaccine to target cross-presentation of dendritic cells. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Vol. 46 (pp. 1060-1061). Melbourne, AUSTRALIA: WILEY-BLACKWELL. -
Conference Items
Year Citation 2022 Perkins, G., Tunbridge, M., Salehi, T., Chai, C. S., Hope, C. M., Garcia-Valtanen, P., . . . Coates, A. O. T. (2022). MTOR Inhibitors Promote Highly Functional T Cell Immunity in Kidney Transplant Recipients Vaccinated Against COVID-19. Poster session presented at the meeting of TRANSPLANTATION. ELECTR NETWORK: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2017 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. K., Grubor-Bauk, B., & Gowans, E. J. (2017). Novel DNA vaccine formulations encoding secreted HCV-E1/E2 fused to the IMX313 oligomerisation domain are immunogenic in mice. Poster session presented at the meeting of 12th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology. 2017 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. K., Grubor-Bauk, B., & Gowans, E. J. (2017). Novel DNA vaccine formulations encoding secreted HCV-E1/E2 fused to the IMX313 oligomerisation domain are immunogenic in mice. Poster session presented at the meeting of Adelaide Immunology Retreat. Nuriootpa. 2017 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. K., Grubor-Bauk, B., & Gowans, E. J. (2017). Novel DNA vaccine formulations encoding secreted HCV-E1/E2 fused to the IMX313 oligomerisation domain are immunogenic in mice. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Research Conference. 2017 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. K., Grubor-Bauk, B., & Gowans, E. J. (2017). Enhancing the immunogenicity of HCV vaccines by fusing E1/E2 to the IMX313P multimerization technology. Poster session presented at the meeting of 24th International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and Related Viruses. Hyannis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. 2017 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. K., Grubor-Bauk, B., & Gowans, E. J. (2017). Novel DNA vaccines encoding secreted HCV-E1/E2 fused to the IMX313 oligomerisation domain are immunogenic in mice. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) Research Day. Adeleide, Australia. 2017 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. K., Grubor-Bauk, B., & Gowans, E. J. (2017). Enhancing the immunogenicity of HCV vaccines by fusing E1/E2 to the IMX313P oligomerisation technology. Poster session presented at the meeting of 9th Australasian Virology Society Meeting. 2016 Tomusange, K., Wijesundara, D., Gummow, J., Gowans, E. J., & Grubor-Bauk, B. (2016). Mucosal vaccination with a live recombinant rhinovirus followed by intradermal DNA administration elicits protective HIV-specific immune responses. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the 2016 Conference on HIV Research for Prevention (HIV R4P), as published in Aids Research and Human Retroviruses. Chicago, IL: Mary Ann Liebert.
DOI2016 Khamis, T., Wijesundara, D., Gummow, J., Garrod, T., Li, Y., Gray, L., . . . Gowans, E. (2016). HIV-Tat Fused to the Oligomerisation Domain of the C4-binding Protein Is Highly Immunogenic and Controls EcoHIV Challenge in Mice. Poster session presented at the meeting of AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES. Chicago, IL: MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC. 2016 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. K., Grubor-Bauk, B., & Gowans, E. J. (2016). A novel DNA-based virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine against hepatitis C.. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Research Conference. 2016 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. W., Grubor-Bauk, B., & Gowans, E. J. (2016). A DNA-based virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine against the hepatitis C virus. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) Research Day. Adelaide. 2015 Masavuli, M. G., Grubor-Bauk, B. G., Wijesundara, D. K., & Gowans, E. J. (2015). A novel DNA-based virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine for hepatitis C virus. Poster session presented at the meeting of Florey Postgraduate Research Conference. AdelaIide. 2015 Masavuli, M. G., Wijesundara, D. K., grubor-bauk, B., & gowans, E. G. (2015). A novel DNA-based virus-like particle vaccine for hepatitis C virus. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) Research Day 2015. Adelaide. 2013 Loveland, B. E., Latour, P., Roberts, S. K., Gordon, A., Kemp, W., Kitson, M., . . . Gowans, E. J. (2013). A Phase I clinical trial of cellular immunotherapy for persistent Hepatitis C infection. Poster session presented at the meeting of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology. Hangzhou, Peoples Republic of China: Wiley-Blackwell. -
Theses
Year Citation 2018 Masavuli, M. G. (2018). Novel DNA Vaccine Formulations Against
Hepatitis C Virus. (PhD Thesis).
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).
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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
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