Ann Chidgey

Associate Professor Ann Chidgey is an Adjunct Associate Professor (Research) in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Monash University, affiliated with the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. She obtained her BSc and Dip.Ed from the University of Melbourne, followed by a PhD in Immunology from Monash University (1998). Her research focuses on thymus biology, immune aging, and thymic regeneration, with an emphasis on stem cell-based strategies to combat immunodeficiency caused by aging or cytotoxic treatments.

Dr. Chidgey’s work integrates immunology, stem cell biology, and biomaterials engineering. Key achievements include identifying postnatal thymic epithelial progenitors (Wong et al., 2014), developing 3D culture systems for thymic organoids (Hun et al., 2017), and elucidating roles of BMP4/Activin signaling in thymic aging (Lepletier/Hun, 2019). Her lab investigates thymus regeneration post-chemotherapy and strategies to enhance T-cell reconstitution in the elderly.

• Education: BSc and Dip.Ed (University of Melbourne), PhD (Monash University)
• Awards: Australian Centenary Medal, Mollie Hollman Medal, Monash Postgraduate Publications Award
• Grants: NHMRC-funded projects on immune regeneration and thymus tolerance mechanisms
• Labs: Heads the Thymus Development, Ageing and Regeneration Laboratory