Philip O'ConnellView profile
Professor
Professor Philip O'Connell (MBBS, PhD, FAHMS) serves as Executive Director of the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and holds appointments at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health . He is a leading authority in transplantation immunology and renal allograft dysfunction , with major contributions to islet transplantation and transplant biomarker development . Research Themes: His work spans diabetes cure strategies through islet xenotransplantation, genomics of transplant rejection, and ethical solutions to global organ shortages. Current projects include: $3.3M JDRF grant for drug-free islet transplant protocols $1.06M NHMRC grant on renal transplant fibrosis gene pathways $9.46M NHMRC program for type 1 diabetes intervention Publication Trends (2022-2025): Focus on genetic determinants of transplant success (LIMS1, APOL1), machine learning for biopsy analysis, and immunomodulatory strategies (CD47, IL-2, TNFAIP3). Collaborative work with Mount Sinai School of Medicine on transplant biomarkers via NIH funding. Awards: 2018 Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences 2003 TJ Neale Award for nephrology contributions 1989 Gordon-Taylor Scholarship (University of Melbourne) 2011-2021 NHMRC Senior Practitioner Fellow Leadership: Past President of The Transplantation Society (2014-2016), director of Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, and key member of the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group. His lab at Westmead Hospital pioneers pig-to-human xenotransplant models and develops regulatory T cell therapies.










