La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science

15/05/2026

🤝 REACH Launch: Bringing together world-class scientists with the community to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Last week, it was our pleasure to launch our new research initiative, REACH – Research and Engagement for Antimicrobial Resistance and Community Health.

It was an inspiring event, with community and cutting-edge science at its heart. We heard from those with lived experience of chronic UTIs, which in one in five cases, are made more difficult to treat because of antimicrobial resistance.

We learned about how AMR is not just a human health issue, but one which affects all life – animals, plants, and the environment itself – and combating it needs a holistic approach.

We heard how our scientists are already applying their expertise to tackle AMR - from bacteria-killing viruses, new peptides, and ways to make bacteria less virulent, to using defensins from nature to develop new antifungal treatments.

And we heard how, through the REACH Initiative, LIMS will be supporting multidisciplinary research with community collaboration to find new antimicrobial treatments, and preserve the usefulness of current treatments.

Thank you to all of our speakers on the day: Chronic UTI Australia Chair and Co-Founder Deirdre Pinto; REACH Initiative co-convenors Professor Begoña Heras and Associate Professor Ash Mansell; researchers Professor Mark Hulett, Professor Steve Petrovski, Dr Wenyi Li, Dr Jason Paxman, Dr Kathy Parisi and Professor Marilyn Anderson AO; LIMS Director Professor Patrick Humbert; andDeputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice President (Research & Innovation) Professor Chris Pakes.

Finally, a big thank you to all who attended, and expressed interest in collaborating with our researchers.

AMR is complex, and is fast on the rise. If we’re to protect our future from AMR’s devastating impact, it needs to be tackled from multiple angles in innovative ways.

The REACH Initiative is just the beginning. We hope that by bringing those with lived experience together with experts from across scientific disciplines, we can develop meaningful solutions to provide better health outcomes, and ensure effective infection prevention and treatment remain within reach of all.

La Trobe University

14/05/2026

🚀 Congratulations to LIMS Space Biology Research Professor Kate Kitagawa, who has been named a finalist in two categories at the Space Connect Australian Space Awards!

Professor Kitagawa, who is a Professor of Practice for the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, La Trobe University and the founder of space education platform Aussie Space Rocks, is a finalist in the Female Space Leader of the Year – Academia and Rising Star of the Year – Academia categories.

The winners will be announced on 18 June – we wish Professor Kitagawa the best of luck!

See the full list of finalists: https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/ausspaceawards/winners/2026-finalists

La Trobe University

04/05/2026

🖥️ “I am greatly honoured to receive a Fellowship that’s named after Professor Nick Hoogenraad, because he is the reason why I did my PhD at LIMS in the first place.”

Meet Dr Ruitao Jin, our new LIMS Nick Hoogenraad Fellow.

A computational chemist, Dr Jin’s research investigates how cells respond at a molecular level to physical and biological stimuli – from how plants can sense and respond to drought conditions, to how human immune systems provide an innate defence against infection.

Using a method called molecular dynamics, he visualizes the dynamic structures of proteins to understand how they transform when exposed to different stimuli.

“I’m passionate about my research field, because it uncovers the hidden ‘architecture’ of life,” Dr Jin said.

“It’s often a multidisciplinary puzzle that requires knowledge in biology, chemistry, and physics and more.”

Through his work, Dr Jin hopes to contribute to meaningful impact in health and agriculture.

“By uncovering how proteins function as biological sensors, our work will provide the essential blueprint for developing more smart and powerful biological systems,” he said.

Dr Jin completed his PhD at LIMs in 2020, and we’re excited to welcome him back as our LIMS Nick Hoogenraad Fellow.

Dr Jin said Professor Hoogenraad, who founded LIMS, is an inspiration for younger generation of scientists.

“Being awarded the LIMS Hoogenraad Fellowship feels like a mandate to uphold the high standards he set for this institution,” he said.

“There are so many world-leading scientists at LIMS who not only are leaders in their area, but are also wonderful mentors.

“I’m looking forward to learning from them, collaborating with them, and bringing some exciting research outcomes together with them.”

Read the full story: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/announcements/2026/focus-on-dr-ruitao-jin

La Trobe University

01/05/2026

📣 Meet the speakers | REACH Initiative launch

We’re delighted to introduce our speakers for the upcoming REACH Initiative launch!

Bringing together lived experience with scientific expertise from across disciplines, each speaker will bring their own perspective on how we can tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and protect human, animal, plant, and environmental health.

🔸 Deirdre Pinto
Co Founder & Chairperson, Chronic UTI Australia Inc.
Deirdre brings powerful lived experience of chronic urinary tract infection, highlighting the real world impact of recalcitrant infections and the importance of patient-centered solutions.

🔸 Professor Begoña Heras & Dr Jason Paxman
Anti-virulence therapies
Pioneering anti-virulence therapeutics that disarm harmful bacteria instead of killing them - a new way to fight infections and stay ahead of antibiotic resistance.

🔸 Professor Mark Hulett
Bio inspired antimicrobials
Drawing inspiration from nature, Professor Hulett's research explores antifungal and antibacterial defensins found in plants and animals, including crocodiles.

🔸 Emeritus Professor Marilyn Anderson & Dr Kathy Parisi
Antifungal therapies
Discovering new antifungal treatments using plant defensins to address the growing threat of fungal resistance.

🔸 Professor Steve Petrovski
Mobile genetic elements & phage therapy
Advancing bacteriophage-based treatments - using bacteria-killing viruses as alternatives to traditional antibiotics.

🔸 Dr Wenyi Li
Antimicrobial peptides
Designing next-generation, high-potency antimicrobial peptides to more effectively kill resistant bacteria.

👉 Join us to learn how REACH is driving collaboration, innovation, and impact—and how you can be part of the solution.

Find out more and register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/reach-initiative-protecting-our-future-from-antimicrobial-resistance-tickets-1985246766520

La Trobe University

24/04/2026

🎉 Community, diverse perspectives and hope: Celebrating the launch of the Post-Acute Viral Infection diseases Group (PAVING) National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Research Excellence!

Led by Distinguished Professor Stephanie Gras (LIMS Deputy Director), with LIMS Fellow Dr Sarah Annesley and collaborators across Australia, the $3 million NHMRC centre seeks to uncover the biological mechanisms behind Long COVID, ME/CFS and Multiple Sclerosis, accelerate pathways to new, effective treatments, and help to improve quality of life for those living with these conditions.

The two days of workshops, talks and celebrations encapsulated PAVING’s core aim of bringing members of the community who live with these conditions together with scientists and clinicians to help shape research priorities and guide interpretation to ensure real-world impact.

Throughout the launch activities, members of the community generously shared their stories of what it’s like to be diagnosed live with Long COVID, ME/CFS and MS; researchers shared their expertise and research techniques; and connections were made for future collaborations.

Congratulations to the PAVING team – we can’t wait to see how your research unfolds.

To find out more and to get involved, visit the PAVING CRE website 👉 https://cre-paving.org/

La Trobe University

23/04/2026

⏰ REACH Initiative Launch: Register and learn how we are tackling antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rising at an alarming rate, undermining the effectiveness of antibiotics and threatening the health and wellbeing of communities worldwide. With AMR contributing to millions of deaths globally every year, the need for action has never been more urgent.

If you care about the future of infection prevention, treatment, and community health, don’t forget to register for the launch of REACH (Research and Engagement for Antimicrobial Resistance and Community Health) and hear how you can help researchers at the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS) tackle one of the most critical global health challenges of our time.

👉 Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/reach-initiative-protecting-our-future-from-antimicrobial-resistance-tickets-1985246766520

La Trobe University

Join us to launch REACH - a new LIMS initiative to tackle one of the most urgent global health challenges of our time.

21/04/2026

Congratulations to LIMS Fellow Dr Ebony Monson, who has received the Basic Science Researcher Award at this year’s Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research!

Dr Monson’s work investigates fat-containing structures in our cells called lipid droplets, and their role in our immune system’s early defences against viral infections.

“These rapid defences are activated within minutes of infection, but until recently, we did not fully understand how they are organised or how they help stop viruses from spreading,” she said.

“By understanding and harnessing this natural defence system, this work aims to develop a new type of antiviral treatment that could work against many different viruses, including future emerging threats. This represents a shift toward “host-directed” therapies that strengthen the body’s own defences, rather than targeting the virus itself.”

Dr Monson said she was both excited and humbled to receive the award, and grateful to her team, mentors and collaborators for their support.

“This recognition means a lot, especially in a field where so many people are doing amazing work,” she said.

“It makes me feel really proud to be recognised as an emerging leader in my field, and also to represent something visible for young girls who might be thinking about a career in science, because you can’t be what you can’t see."

Dr Monson received the award alongside School of Allied Health, Human Service and Sport’s Dr Brooke Patterson. A researcher at the Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, Dr Patterson received the Clinical Researcher Award for her outstanding work designing “Prep-to-Play” – an injury-prevention program for women and girls who play community-level Australian rules football.

Find out more: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2026/release/la-trobe-researchers-recognised-in-premiers-award

La Trobe University

13/04/2026

🧠 How could understanding the spleen and inflammation help us develop new, better stroke recovery treatments?

New LIMS x Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute research has uncovered how the body’s immune response, particularly the spleen, can worsen brain injury following a stroke.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology, the study shows that after stroke the spleen produces large numbers of inflammatory immune cells driven by a key signal called S100A8/A9. While inflammation is intended to help heal, in this case it can increase swelling and damage brain tissue.

💡 The breakthrough:
By blocking this inflammatory signal in pre-clinical models, researchers reduced brain damage by around 35 per cent and significantly improved recovery within 24 hours.

“Inflammation can cause ongoing injury to the brain, even after blood flow is restored,” said La Trobe lead researcher Dr Helena Kim.

“This is an early but exciting step toward better treatments for stroke patients.”

Importantly, the same inflammatory signal was found in brain tissue from people who had experienced severe strokes, strengthening the relevance to human disease.

This approach does not suppress the immune system altogether. Instead, it aims to switch off damaging signals and could complement existing stroke treatments to reduce long-term disability.

With stroke remaining a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, this research offers a promising new direction, with possible implications beyond stroke, including heart attack and other vascular diseases.

Read more: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2026/release/spleen-identified-as-new-target-in-stroke-recovery

La Trobe University

Spleen identified as new target in stroke recovery

10/04/2026

🧬 Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most critical global health threats of our time.

Modern medicine depends on antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs—but AMR is rising so rapidly that many lifesaving treatments are losing their effectiveness. With AMR contributing to five deaths every two minutes worldwide, we are fast approaching a future that resembles the pre antibiotic era.

Addressing this urgent challenge demands new ways to combat infectious disease, strengthen prevention, and protect community health.

Join us for the launch of the REACH Initiative (Research and Engagement for Antimicrobial Resistance and Community Health) and hear how LIMS is taking a leading role in tackling this critical issue.

This event brings together people with lived experience of AMR alongside researchers from across scientific disciplines to explore:
🔸 How and why AMR is accelerating
🔸 Innovative research underway at LIMS—from sustainable antimicrobials that disarm bacterial virulence, to targeted peptides, antifungal defensins, and bacteriophages
🔸 How through research and collaboration, the REACH Initiative seek not only to protect humans from AMR, but also animals, plants, and the environment.

📆 Thu 7 May, 3.00pm – 4.30pm
📍 Hoogenraad Auditorium (LIMS1-101), La Trobe University – Melbourne Campus (Bundoora)
🖥️ Hybrid option via Zoom
The event will be followed by drinks, nibbles and networking.

We hope you can join us to learn how REACH is working to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to effective infection prevention and treatment—and how you can be part of the solution.

👉 Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/reach-initiative-protecting-our-future-from-antimicrobial-resistance-tickets-1985246766520

La Trobe University

02/04/2026

🏅 Congratulations to LIMS Members Dr Pamali Fonseka and PhD researcher You Min Ahn, who have both been recognised in this year’s ASBMB Awards!

Dr Fonseka, Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Extracellular Vesicles (RCEV) and an emerging leader in this field, received the Eppendorf Edman ECR Award in recognition of her outstanding work investigating how we can harness EVs to develop alternative strategies for aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers.

You Min was one of just four PhD students from across Australia to receive the ASBMB Fellowship in recognition of her research investigating the specific molar mechanism of CD8+ T cell-mediated responses against SARS-CoV-2.

Through their awards, Dr Fonseka and You Min will receive funding to attend overseas conferences in biochemistry or molecular biology, or the opportunity to visit a laboratory in Australia or overseas to learn new research techniques or access new equipment.

These well deserved achievements highlight the excellence and impact of each of these wonderful emerging researchers, and we’re proud to see our them recognised on a national stage for work that is shaping the future of health and biomedical science.

La Trobe University