About HMRI Infection Research Program
The organisationalchart on the left outlines our program’s leadership and thematic structure. The program is led by Professor Nathan Bartlett, Virologist, with Professor Josh Davis, Infectious Diseases Physician, as Deputy Lead. Dr Natalie Niessen serves as Program Manager, supporting coordination across the program’s activities. Our work is structured around four key themes, each with a dedicated lead.
HMRI Infection Research Program Leads
Professor Nathan Bartlett, Program Lead
Dr Natalie Niessen, Program Manager
Professor Nathan Bartlett, Program Lead
Professor Nathan Bartlett is a viral immunologist at the University of Newcastle and Program Lead of the Infection Research Program at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. He also serves as Associate Dean of Industry and Engagement in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy. His research focuses on early immune responses to res
Professor Nathan Bartlett is a viral immunologist at the University of Newcastle and Program Lead of the Infection Research Program at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. He also serves as Associate Dean of Industry and Engagement in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy. His research focuses on early immune responses to respiratory viruses and led to the development of a nasal spray that stimulates the innate immune system to help prevent severe respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, earning him the title of Newcastle's 2024 Citizen of the Year.
Professor Josh Davis, Deputy Lead
Dr Natalie Niessen, Program Manager
Professor Nathan Bartlett, Program Lead
Professor Josh Davis is an infectious diseases physician and clinician-researcher at the University of Newcastle and John Hunter Hospital. He specialises in clinical trials for severe infections such as Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, sepsis, and bone and joint infections, with additional interests in viral hepatitis and A
Professor Josh Davis is an infectious diseases physician and clinician-researcher at the University of Newcastle and John Hunter Hospital. He specialises in clinical trials for severe infections such as Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, sepsis, and bone and joint infections, with additional interests in viral hepatitis and Aboriginal health. He has served as President of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases, and in 2020, was recognised as one of the most highly cited researchers in Clinical Medicine.
Dr Natalie Niessen, Program Manager
Dr Natalie Niessen, Program Manager
Dr Natalie Niessen, Program Manager
Dr Natalie Niessen is a scientist at the University of Newcastle with a PhD in Medicine and a background in molecular biosciences. As the Program Manager of the HMRI Infection Research Program, she plays a key role in strategic planning and project management, overseeing financial planning and budgeting, and coordinating the team and external stakeholders to drive progress in medical research.
Severe Bacterial Infections Theme
Professor Josh Davis, Theme Lead
Prof Josh Davis is a clinician-researcher and chief investigator of the clinical trials and studies conducted within the Severe Bacterial Infections Theme.
Associate Professor David Dewar, Deputy Lead
A/Prof David Dewar is an orthopaedic surgeon with an interest in surgery of the hip, knee and complex trauma. He is one of the participating surgeons of the ROADMAP trial, investigating how to best treat prosthetic joint infecitons.
Infection Prevention & Control / Antibiotic Stewardship
Professor Brett Mitchell, Theme Lead
Dr Sarah Browning, E/MCR Representative
Associate Professor John Ferguson, Deputy Lead
Prof Brett Mitchell is a leading expert in infection prevention, working to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections like pneumonia and urinary tract infections. His research has shaped national guidelines and earned him major awards and funding. He also edits a top international journal on infectious diseases.
Associate Professor John Ferguson, Deputy Lead
Dr Sarah Browning, E/MCR Representative
Associate Professor John Ferguson, Deputy Lead
A/Prof John Ferguson is a microbiologist and infectious diseases physician with Hunter New England Health. He specialises in infection control and antimicrobial resistance, contributing to national health policy through roles on the Commonwealth Infection Control Expert Group and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare.
Dr Sarah Browning, E/MCR Representative
Dr Sarah Browning, E/MCR Representative
Dr Sarah Browning, E/MCR Representative
Dr Sarah Browning is an infectious diseases physician at John Hunter Hospital and Clinical Director of Infection Prevention for Hunter New England Health. Her work focuses on preventing hospital-acquired infections and combating antimicrobial resistance. Currently she is pursuing a PhD on the transmission of multi-resistant organisms in healthcare settings.
Pandemic Preparedness / Infectious Disease Surveillance
Assocaite Professor Craig Dalton, Theme Lead
Dr David Boettiger, E/MCR Representative
Assocaite Professor Craig Dalton, Theme Lead
A/Prof Craig Dalton is a public health physician, known for founding FluTracking, one of the world's largest crowd-sourced influenza surveillance systems. Beyond surveillance, he has contributed to national health policy and authored resources on effective community engagement in public health crises.
Professor Brett Neilan, Deputy Lead
Dr David Boettiger, E/MCR Representative
Assocaite Professor Craig Dalton, Theme Lead
Prof Brett Neilan is a molecular biologist and microbial chemist. His research has led to the identification of genes responsible for toxin production in blue-green algae, aiding in water safety monitoring and offering potential for novel drug development. He continues to explore the applications of microbial biotechnology in medicine and industry.
Dr David Boettiger, E/MCR Representative
Dr David Boettiger, E/MCR Representative
Dr David Boettiger, E/MCR Representative
Dr David Boettiger is an epidemiologist, specialising in infectious disease surveillance and health data modelling. He plays a key role in FluTracking, a community-based system that monitors respiratory illness trends and vaccine uptake across Australia. His work has informed global health policies and guidelines.
Translational Virus Research
Professor Nathan Bartlett, Theme Lead
Dr Camille Esneau E/MCR Representative
Professor Nathan Bartlett, Theme Lead
Prof Nathan Bartlett leads the Translational Virus Theme and a team of lab-based researchers investigating a wide range of innovative therapeutic strategies, including viral vaccine vectors, innate immune modulators, antibody and nanobody-based treatments, RNA interference, nanomedicines, and small molecule drugs. Their research uses expe
Prof Nathan Bartlett leads the Translational Virus Theme and a team of lab-based researchers investigating a wide range of innovative therapeutic strategies, including viral vaccine vectors, innate immune modulators, antibody and nanobody-based treatments, RNA interference, nanomedicines, and small molecule drugs. Their research uses experimental models, such as primary bronchial epithelial cell cultures grown at an air-liquid interface, donated human lung tissue, and mouse models of respiratory disease, offering a comprehensive platform to develop and test new interventions.
Dr Jason Girkin, Deputy Lead
Dr Camille Esneau E/MCR Representative
Professor Nathan Bartlett, Theme Lead
Dr Jason Girkin is a postdoctoral researcher, specialising in how viruses like rhinovirus and coronaviruses trigger asthma and other lung diseases. His research focuses on the body's innate immune responses and developing new therapies to prevent or reduce viral infections. His work has contributed to clinical trials for innovative immu
Dr Jason Girkin is a postdoctoral researcher, specialising in how viruses like rhinovirus and coronaviruses trigger asthma and other lung diseases. His research focuses on the body's innate immune responses and developing new therapies to prevent or reduce viral infections. His work has contributed to clinical trials for innovative immune-activating treatments aimed at preventing COVID-19 and influenza. He is also dedicated to science outreach and community engagement.
Dr Camille Esneau E/MCR Representative
Dr Camille Esneau E/MCR Representative
Dr Camille Esneau E/MCR Representative
Dr Camille Esneau is a postdoctoral researcher in virology, specialising in how respiratory viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2 cause disease. Her work explores why some virus strains cause more severe illness than others, contributing to the development of better, targeted antiviral treatments. Camille has hands-on experience working
Dr Camille Esneau is a postdoctoral researcher in virology, specialising in how respiratory viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2 cause disease. Her work explores why some virus strains cause more severe illness than others, contributing to the development of better, targeted antiviral treatments. Camille has hands-on experience working with viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and uses advanced lab models that mimic the human airway to study how viruses behave and how the body responds.