Stephanie Gras
Bio
Prof Stephanie Gras is head of the Viral & Structural Immunology laboratory and Deputy Director of the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS) at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. She is an internationally recognised leader in the field of T cell Immunology and Structural Biology with a sustained record of high-quality publications in peer reviewed journals (> 130 publications in Nature, Science, Immunity, Nature Immunology, Science Immunology, Nature Communications, PNAS ...), with a successful record of research funding (NHMRC, MRFF, ARC, VMRAF, Commerical contract & philanthropy), and is strongly committed to advance supportive and equitable research environments. Prof Gras is currently an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and has been awarded four fellowships over her career (Monash, ARC Future Fellowship, NHMRC CDF2 and SRFA). She has been awarded the Georgina Sweet Award for Women in Biomedical Science (2017), SCANZ Sandy Mathieson Medal (2022), ASBMB Shimadzu Medal (2023).
Prof Gras' research is instrumental on providing a better understanding of the first key event in T cell-mediated immunity towards pathogens: the antigen recognition mechanism. Notably her work has elucidated the link between HLA and asymptomatic COVID profile, link between TCR docking orientation and T cell activation. Understanding antigen recognition using structural biology offers tremendous opportunities to design new therapies that mobilise, reprogram or boost the immune system.
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