Griffith Perkins

Griffith Perkins

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I am an early career researcher with the Centre for Clinical and Experimental Transplantation. I trained in immunology under Professor Toby Coates and Drs Plinio Hurtado and Chris Hope at the University of Adelaide. I currently hold the Mary Overton Early Career Fellowship from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and appointments with the Adelaide Medical School, SA Pathology, and the International Society of Nephrology. Under the mentorship of Professor Coates, I lead a team of clinicians and scientists undertaking bench-to-bedside translational research to understand and improve protective vaccine responses in immunocompromised populations. Over the last few years, pursuing this goal has taken us from in-depth clinical and molecular immunology to two interventional clinical trials, and has led to excellent collaborations with interstate and international colleagues and people affected by a range of immune-compromising conditions.

My research area is clinical and translational immunology, with a strong grounding in laboratory sciences. Since starting out in 2019, I have presented my research at 8 domestic and 6 international conferences, and have co-authored 33 publications in peer-reviewed journals, including Kidney International, the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Blood Cancer Journal, Gut, and Nature Immunology.

Immunosuppression & Vaccine Response

Transplant recipients receive immunosuppressive drugs to prevent their immune system from attacking the 'non-self' transplant. During my PhD I described the severe impact that these drugs have on the antibody and T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), many of whom remain highly vulnerable to COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable infections (VPIs). In my current fellowship, I am working with a team of two PhD candidates, and local and interstate clinicians, immunologists and virologists, to develop and test strategies to improve long-lived and cross-protective immunity of KTRs against key VPIs - COVID-19, Influenza, Shingles. This work has uncovered two promising targets for intervention to restore patients' T cell and antibody responses: the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in T cells, and immunomodulatory microbial species within the gut. We recently completed two multi-centre, randomised controlled trials exploiting these targets in KTRs to improve their response to SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination. 

We are also investigating vaccine responses in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), myelofibrosis (MF), and haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients.

Vaccine Allergy & Tolerance

A small percentage of people experience hypersensitivity reactions to the novel mRNA nanoparticle vaccines against COVID-19. During the pandemic I worked with the Royal Adelaide Hospital Immunology Department and SA Pathology to develop a diagnostic test to stratify individuals at-risk of adverse reaction. We found that the sensitivity of people with allergy to the mRNA vaccines is dependent on the arrangement of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules on the surface of the lipid nanoparticle. This property enabled us to massively improve diagnostic sensitivity and reliably diagnose PEG allergy from a blood test. 

This collaboration has led to ongoing trials investigating mechanisms and biomarkers of allergic desensitisation in people undergoing venom immunotherapy, and of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the prevention of exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

Centre for Clinical & Experimental Transplantation

The lab under Prof Coates runs a number of other translational research streams that are also available as projects for Honours, M.Phil and PhD students, including:

  • Engineered Chimeric Antigen Receptor T regulatory cells (CAR Tregs) as an immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes
  • 3-dimensional bioprinting of pancreatic islets and supporting cell types for type 1 diabetes
  • Subcutaneous transplantation of pancreatic islets in large animal models and first-in-human trial
  • Establishing total pancreatectomy with islet auto-transplantation (TPIAT) as a newly available, reimbursed cure for pancreatitis in Australia
  • Patient-derived organoids to model hereditary pancreatitis
  • Genetic epidemiology of hereditary pancreatitis in Australia

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Kidney International Editorial Fellow International Society of Nephrology
    2023 - ongoing Mary Overton Early Career Research Fellow Royal Adelaide Hospital
    2023 - ongoing Adjunct Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2023 - ongoing Affiliate Researcher in Immunology SA Pathology

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2024 Award Travel Award - ASI Clinical Translational School Australia & New Zealand Society for Immunology Australia -
    2024 Award Finalist, Premier's Excellence Award - Emerging Young Talent Government of South Australia Australia -
    2023 Fellowship Kidney International Editorial Fellowship International Society of Nephrology United States -
    2023 Fellowship Mary Overton Early Career Fellowship Royal Adelaide Hospital Australia $312,000
    2023 Award Advanced Immunology School Award for Outstanding Contribution Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Australia $250
    2022 Research Award Early Career Researcher Award Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia Flights & Registration
    2022 Research Award Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence University of Adelaide Australia -
    2022 Research Award President's Prize Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia $3,000
    2022 Research Award People's Choice Award Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia $500
    2022 Award Travel grant to attend the 29th International Congress of The Transplantation Society The Transplantation Society Canada $3,500
    2022 Award Travel grant to attend the 13th American Transplant Congress Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia $2,500
    2021 Award Kidney International Reviewer of the Year International Society of Nephrology United States -
    2021 Research Award Early Career Researcher Award Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia Flights & Registration
    2019 Research Award Young Investigator Award Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia Flights & Registration
    2019 Research Award Mentee-Mentor Award American Society of Transplantation United States $2,500
    2019 Award Travel grant to attend the 17th World Congress of the International Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Association Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia $2,500
    2018 Scholarship Master of Philosophy (No Honours) Scholarship University of Adelaide Australia $94,616
    2018 Award Travel grant to attend the Transplantation Science Symposium Asian Regional Meeting Transplantation Society of Taiwan Taiwan, Province of China $750

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2022 - 2022 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2017 - 2017 University of Adelaide Australia BSc(Adv)
    2017 - 2017 University of Adelaide Australia DipLang

  • Research Interests
    Allergy Applied immunology (incl. antibody engineering, xenotransplantation and t-cell therapies) Immunology Infectious Diseases Transplantation Immunology Vaccinology Immunology and Infection Innovative Therapeutics Surgical and Health Systems Innovation Translational Health Outcomes

As Chief Investigator, I have received >$2M in competitive research funding and salary support, plus >$17,000 in travel grants and bursaries.

2025                    University of Adelaide – Chief Investigator A
Building Research Leaders Grant Scheme – $49,550

2024-27              Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF) – Chief Investigator
Repurposing mTOR inhibitors to boost vaccine responses in the immunocompromised and elderly – $1,319,883

2024/25              Health Services Charitable Gifts Board (HSCGB) – Chief Investigator
Clinical Project Grant – $20,565

2024                    University of Adelaide – Chief Investigator A
Equipment Grant – $9,311

2024                    Kidney, Transplant & Diabetes Research Australia (KTDRA) – Chief Investigator C
Pre-clinical screening of GAD65 CAR-Tregs as a Novel Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes – $27,200

2023-25              Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Committee & Health Services Charitable Gifts Board
Mary Overton Early Career Research Fellowship – $322,000

2023/24              Health Services Charitable Gifts Board (HSCGB) – Chief Investigator
Clinical Project Grant – $49,404

2022/23              Health Services Charitable Gifts Board (HSCGB) – Chief Investigator
Clinical Project Grant – $49,404

2021/22              Health Services Charitable Gifts Board (HSCGB) – Chief Investigator
Clinical Project Grant – $46,512

2019                     Research Training Program – Scholarship
PhD Stipend – $58,780

2018                     University of Adelaide – Scholarship
Master of Philosophy (No Honours) Scholarship – $94,616 competitive scholarship awarded to 12 students university-wide.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Co-Supervisor Repurposing mTOR inhibitors to improve immunological response to vaccination in older adults. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Deborah Pratt
    2024 Co-Supervisor Characterisation of Pancreatic Organoids in Hereditary Pancreatitis and Normal Individuals Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr James Daniel Zuiani
    2024 Co-Supervisor Modulation of the foreign antigen response in solid organ transplantation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Matthew Jack Tunbridge
    2024 Co-Supervisor To develop and validate an in vitro diagnostic system to assess insect allergy and monitor outcomes of venom immunotherapy Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Mrs Shweta Mhatre
    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

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Rapamycin as an adjuvant to enhance vaccine responses in immunocompromised individuals University of Adelaide - Doctorate - Cheng Sheng Chai
    2021 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccines In South Australian Kidney Transplant Recipients University of Adelaide - Honours - Cheng Sheng Chai

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2020 - ongoing Member Early Career Researcher Committee Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2023 - ongoing Member Australiasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Australia
    2023 - ongoing Member International Society of Nephrology Belgium
    2019 - ongoing Member American Society of Transplantation United States
    2019 - ongoing Member Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Australia
    2018 - ongoing Member The Transplantation Society Canada
    2018 - ongoing Member Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia

  • Community Engagement
    Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Social Media Representative Scientific Community Engagement Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2024 - ongoing Board Member Scientific Reports Nature Portfolio Germany
    2022 - ongoing Board Member Kidney International International Society of Nephrology United States

  • Offices Held
    Date Office Name Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Kidney International Editorial Fellow Kidney International United States
    2023 - ongoing Co-chair, Early Career Committee Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia
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