Committee members

President

Name: Professor Georges Emile Raymond Grau (ggrau@med.usyd.edu.au)

Title: Chair of Vascular Immunology, Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health

Institute: The University of Sydney

Professor Georges Grau, MD (University of Liège) and Privat-Docent (University of Genève), is the Chair of Vascular Immunology at the University of Sydney since 2006. His research in immunopathological mechanisms of infectious diseases focuses on cytokines and the microvascular endothelium. His 372 papers have been cited over 30,000 times and his h-index is over 90. Since 2015 he serves as Discipline Leader (Pathology), Marie Bashir Institute, and in 2017 he was elected President of the Australian-New Zealand Microcirculation Society (ANZMS).

Working experience: with his team at the Vascular Immunology Unit, he has:

analysed the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the interactions between microvascular endothelial cells and cells of the immune system.
contributed to the elucidation of cytokine interactions leading to tissue injury, using in vivo intervention studies in various models of pathology, with particular attention to TNF.
developed a brain endothelium co-culture system, to study blood-brain barrier changes in cerebral malaria, sepsis, multiple sclerosis, viral encephalitides and cryptococcal meningoencephalitis
studied extracellular vesicles, particularly microvesicles and exosomes, released in these co-cultures and shown their role as crucial effectors of cytokine-mediated pathology
deciphered critical molecular mechanisms of microvesicle release in inflammatory conditions
shown that inhibition of microvesicle release can prevent pathology.

Vice President

Name: Dr Tim Murphy (tim.murphy@unsw.edu.au)

Qualifications: BSc Hons, PhD

Position: Senior Lecturer, Department
of Pharmacology,
University of New South Wales

Research Interests: Autoregulation of blood flow is the ability of tissues to control ‘local’ blood flow in response to changes in systemic blood pressure and the tissue’s metabolic requirements.

Our research focuses on the various theories proposed to explain autoregulation of blood flow; pressure-induced changes in the diameter of arterioles (myogenic mechanisms) and alteration of arteriolar diameter in response to metabolic products (metabolic mechanisms). We are also interested in the effect of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes on small artery function.

Treasurer

Name: Assoc Prof Shaun Sandow (ssandow@usc.edu.au)

Qualifications: BSc Hons, PhD

Position: Associate Professor, Biomedical Science, University of the Sunshine Coast and Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of Physiology, University of New South Wales

Research Interests: Control of vascular tone in health and disease, with a focus on identifying targets to control blood flow.

Our studies aim to determine some of the ways that cells in arteries communicate with one another and specifically, at how they control the balance between the way that arteries narrow (constrict) and enlarge (dilate). This balance is referred to as vascular tone and is the main determinant of blood pressure and alterations in these underlie cardiovascular disease. Current studies focus on determining how to correct vascular function in preeclampsia (high BP experienced by some women in pregnancy), gestational diabetes and ischemic stroke.

Secretary

Name: Dr Maria Jelinic (m.jelinic@latrobe.edu.au)

Qualifications: BBSc, MSC, PhD

Position: NHMRC & National Heart Foundation Research Fellow, Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University

Research Interests: It is estimated that 80-90% of cases of chronic kidney disease are undiagnosed. This is because kidney disease can be largely asymptomatic whereby up to 90% of kidney function is lost before the disease is detected. By this stage, the condition is irreversible with dialysis or kidney transplantation the only viable treatment options. Dr Maria Jelinic hopes to make this a problem of the past. Her research is aimed at developing better therapies and early detection procedures for chronic kidney disease patients. Maria is particularly interested in how the vasculature contributes to the progression of chronic kidney disease in the settings of obesity and diabetes.

Immediate Past President

Name: Dr Marianne Tare (marianne.tare@monash.edu)

Qualifications: BSc(Hons) PhD(Monash)

Position:Senior Lecturer, Monash Rural Health and Research Fellow, Department of Physiology, Monash University

Research interests: My research group focuses on the mechanisms that regulate the function of resistance arteries in health and disease. Current studies focus on vascular adaptations to pregnancy and dysfunction in disease (e.g. diabetes, hypertension) and resulting from suboptimal intrauterine/postnatal conditions. Exposure to early life insults can have profound effects on vascular function in the offspring, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. We are investigating the mechanisms responsible for vascular and cardiac dysfunction in models of early life insults ranging from nutritional deficiencies through to sustance abuse, and the effects of therapeutic interventions.

Past
President

Name: Prof Michael Hickey (michael.hickey@monash.edu)

Position: NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre.

Research Interests: Dr. Michael Hickey is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow. His laboratory examines leukocyte recruitment in inflamed tissues, a process which underlies the pathogenesis of most inflammatory diseases. His research examines the control of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and leukocyte migration in the inflamed microvasculature, using intravital (in vivo) microscopy to examine the functional microvasculature in models of inflammation.

Current diseases examined include contact sensitivity and glomerulonephritis. An additional focus is human endothelial cell biology.