ProfessorAlister Ward

Professor of Molecular Medicine

Faculty of Health/School of Medicine/Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation

  • Professor of Molecular Medicine
    Faculty of Health/School of Medicine/Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation
  • Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The immune system is vital for maintaining good health. However, much remains to be learnt about how it develops normally, how it is perturbed in disease and how it is subverted during infection. One key facet of the immune system are the various cytokines and their receptors that regulate it. Prof. Ward leads a research team at Deakin University's new Medical School investigating the genes involved in the development of the immune system, including cytokine receptor signalling components, with the aim of understanding their function, evolution, and role in disease. This research utilises multi-disciplinary approach, combining bioinformatics, molecular biology and functional genomics approaches in the zebrafish model. Prof. Ward's group is housed in Deakin's Molecular Medicine Research Facility, which contains a comprehensive suite of equipment to
service molecular biology, cell biology, microscopy and histology at PC2 level, and is supported by Deakin's Aquaculture Facility, which includes breeding tanks, a nursery and an exquisite range of equipment for zebrafish embryo manipulation and analysis, including dedicated microinjectors, fluorescence microscopes and digital cameras.

GRANTS

  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Sperm Transfection Assisted Gene Editing (STAGE) in Zebrafish.
    5 Jul 2023 - 30 Jun 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    CSIRO - $77,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Genome editing innovation.
    1 Jul 2022 - 30 Jun 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    CSIRO - $40,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Long term physical and psychological consequences of Covid-19 infection. A Comparitive Observational Study in Regional Victoria.
    21 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    Department of Jobs, Precincts & Regions - $566,000.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Neuropathogenesis of viral infections.
    1 Mar 2020 - 31 Aug 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    • Alister Ward
    CSIRO - CONTR2020/00599 - $588,766.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Associate Professor of Infection Systems Epidemiology.
    17 Jun 2019 - 31 Dec 2028
    People funded by this grant:
    Burnet Institute - $1,021,723.60
  • INFRASTRUCTURE
    NHMRC Equipment Grant 2016
    7 Sep 2016 - 30 Jun 2017
    People funded by this grant:
    • Alister Ward
    NHMRC - Equipment Grant (pre 2017) - GNT9000413 - $19,922.00
  • GRANT
    Improving Cancer Diagnostics By Using Chemical Flags - Cancer Research Scholarship
    4 Dec 2015 - 28 Aug 2020
    People funded by this grant:
    Equity Trustees - Norman, Ann & Graeme Atkins Charitable Trust - ATK-CRS2015F001 - $42,000.00
  • GRANT
    Automated gene expression quantification machine: qRT-PCR
    1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    • Gibert Y,
    • Ward A
    Collier Charitable Fund - $33,800.00
  • GRANT
    Identifying underlying causes of craniofacial defects in newborns
    7 Jul 2014 - 30 Jun 2016
    People funded by this grant:
    Financial Markets - Foundation for Children - 2014-058
  • GRANT
    Characterising the role of interferons in low and highly pathogenic influenza virus infection in the chicken
    4 Feb 2013 - 5 Feb 2016
    People funded by this grant:
    • Ward A,
    • Rohringer A
    CSIRO - $28,000.00
  • INFRASTRUCTURE
    Anaerobic Bacterial Culture Cabinet
    1 Jan 2013 - 30 Jun 2014
    People funded by this grant:
    • Alister Ward
    NHMRC - Equipment Grant (pre 2017) - GNT9000198 - $22,500.00
  • GRANT
    Research into the role of Proteins called cytokine receptors in ovarian cancer and the development of novel agents to suppress their effects
    1 Jan 2013 - 31 Dec 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    Equity Trustees - Norman, Ann & Graeme Atkins Charitable Trust - CT - $37,500.00
  • GRANT
    Delivery of MIRNA Using Genetically Modified Influenza Virus
    27 Aug 2012 - 26 Aug 2016
    People funded by this grant:
    Victorian International Research Scholarships - $60,000.00
  • GRANT
    Deakin Cancer Research
    1 Jun 2012 - 31 Dec 2012
    People funded by this grant:
    • Alister Ward
    ANZCT - Norman, Ann & Graeme Atkins Charitable Trust - $5,000.00
  • INFRASTRUCTURE
    NHMRC Equipment Grant 2011 - MMR SRC
    27 Jun 2011 - 31 Aug 2012
    People funded by this grant:
    NHMRC - Equipment Grant (pre 2017) - GNT1038597 - $9,897.00
  • GRANT
    Defining mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle development and muscular dystrophy
    1 Jan 2010 - 31 Dec 2012
    People funded by this grant:
    • Mcculloch D,
    • Stupka N,
    • Ward A
    Financial Markets - Foundation for Children - 2010-162 - $142,460.00
  • INFRASTRUCTURE
    Equipment Grant 2009
    13 Nov 2009 - 30 Jun 2010
    People funded by this grant:
    • Alister Ward
    NHMRC - Equipment Grant (pre 2017) - 640327 - $48,114.00
  • COLLABORATIVE GRANT
    CONTACT: Consortium for the evaluation of targeted cancer therapies
    7 Sep 2009 - 31 Jan 2019
    People funded by this grant:
    • Ward A,
    • Bell R
    CONTACT Grant - Research - Contact Asia Pacific Inc - Beyond CHAT - $280,603.87
  • GRANT
    Researcher of the year (teaching & learning) award
    31 Aug 2009 - 31 Dec 2009
    People funded by this grant:
    Smart Geelong Network Grant - Research - $5,000.00
  • GRANT
    Establishment of GTRAC
    9 Jun 2009 - 8 Jun 2011
    People funded by this grant:
    • Alister Ward
    Geelong Community Foundation Grant - Research - $47,480.00
  • GRANT
    Establishment of the First Medical School in Geelong
    19 Jun 2007 - 31 Dec 2007
    People funded by this grant:
    Geelong Community Foundation Grant - Research - $30,000.00
  • GRANT
    Impact of subterranean water on the physiology and health of Murray cod (Maccullochella peeli peeli)
    1 Jul 2006 - 31 Mar 2009
    People funded by this grant:
    • Jones P,
    • Desilva S,
    • Turchini G,
    • Toop T,
    • Ward A
    Aust & Pacific Science Foundation Grant - Research CAT3 - $23,000.00
  • GRANT
    Socs proteins in development and disease
    17 Nov 2004 - 30 Jun 2008
    People funded by this grant:
    • Ward A,
    • Nicholson S
    ARC - Discovery Projects - DP0556297 - $215,000.00
  • GRANT
    PhD Scholarship - Study of Myeloid Leukaemogenesis in Zebrafish
    1 Jan 2004 - 31 Dec 2004
    People funded by this grant:
    • Ward A,
    • Onnebo S
    Cancer Council Victoria Scholarship - $33,226.00