Chief Investigators
Our Chief Investigators lead the PAVING CRE, ensuring all program activities are seamlessly integrated. They provide strategic direction, oversight and guidance to make key decisions to drive program success. Together, they guide the CRE agenda and deliver outcomes that advance our mission.
Dist. Professor Stephanie Gras
CRE Director
Lead of Viral Infection and Molecular Mechanisms
Distinguished Professor Gras is an internationally recognised leader in T cell immunology, particularly against viral infections. She leads a dynamic network of researchers, clinicians, and junior staff covering basic research, public health initiative, and consumer engagement with Long COVID.
Professor Kirsty Short
CRE DEPUTY Director
Lead of Viral Infection, Mouse Model and Translational Pathway
Professor Short has extensive experience in studying viral pathogenesis and immunity. She publishes in prestigious journals such as Lancet Infectious Diseases, Nature Microbiology, Science, Lancet Microbe and Immunity. Her work has been cited by Victorian and U.K. policy guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Kim Good-Jacobson
Chief investigator
Lead B Cells and Epigenetics
Professor Good-Jacobson is an internationally recognised expert in epigenetic regulation of B cells, antibody production, and the formation of immune memory. She leads a diverse team with multidisciplinary skills including in vivo models, single-cell molecular biology and bioinformatics.
Associate Professor Corey Smith
chief investigator
Lead MS Research, EBV Immunology
Associate Professor Smith is an internationally recognised expert in viral-associated diseases and cellular immunotherapy. They have made significant contributions to cellular immunotherapy, including the first TGA-licensed manufacturing process for T cell immunotherapy in Australia for Phase I/II trial in EBV-associated diseases.
Professor Sudha Rao
CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
Lead Long COVID Research, non-human primate model and Translational Medicine
Professor Rao has a 20-year track record in translational epigenetics in both academia and industry, where she has led drug development and biomarker discovery projects to take novel therapeutics from bench to clinic. She has access to unique patient cohorts and epigenetic drugs and expertise in liquid biopsy technology, and unique preclinical models.
Dr Emily Eriksson
CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
Lead Long COVID Research and Immunology
Dr Eriksson’s is an infectious disease immunologist based at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI). Her research focuses on understanding abnormal immune responses to infection, exploring pathogen factors that alter immune cell responses and identifying markers that can distinguish atypical immune processes. They have established and are co-leading a Victorian longitudinal COVID cohort.
Dr Sarah Annesley
CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
Lead ME/CFS Research, Biomarkers Identification and Metabolism
Dr Annesley is a molecular cell biologist and an expert in analysis of mitochondrial function and metabin neurological disorders. She has established connections with ME/CFS advocacy groups, including Bridges & Pathways, ME Australia, Open Medicine Foundation and Emerge Australia.
Professor Elaine Holmes, FAA
CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
Lead Metabolomic and Translational Pathway
Professor Holmes is a distinguished computational biologist and chemist. She is an ARC Laureate Fellow and former Premier’s Fellow at Murdoch University. Her main research area focuses on applying metabolic profiling and computational modelling of biofluids and tissues to understand pathological and physiological disease processes.
Professor Simon Broadley
CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
Lead MS Clinician, Clinical and Translational Pathway
Professor Broadley is a consultant neurologist and leads the MS Clinic at Gold Coast University Hospital. Professor Broadley is chair of the Australian MS Clinical Trials Platform and is the coordinating principle investigator for 3 multicentre clinical trials in MS.
Professor David Watters, AM, OBE
CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
Lead Long COVID Clinician, Clinical and Translational Pathway
David Watters is a Distinguished (Alfred Deakin) Professor at Deakin University and Barwon Health. He is a former Council Member and Past President of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and was appointed the inaugural Chair of the Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council (VPCC) in 2019-2022. VPCC led Victoria’s perioperative response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing policy advice around PPE and the opening and closure of planned (elective) surgeries across Victoria. He chaired the Victorian Post Acute COVID-19 Sequelae Committee (VPACS) of Researchers from 2021-2025.