Andreas Kupz

Andreas Kupz is an Associate Professor and NHMRC Investigator at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook University. He leads the Tuberculosis Vaccinology group, focusing on microbiology, immunology, and vaccine development against intracellular pathogens. His work has been recognized through 17 awards, including the Queensland Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2020) and JCU’s Rising Stars ECR Leadership Award (2018).

Education: Diplom (MSc equivalent) in Biology from Humboldt University (2006), PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Melbourne (2011). Postdoctoral training at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (2013–2016). Additional certifications include a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Learning and Leadership (2011) and the Bridge Program (Queensland University of Technology, 2018).

Research interests center on tuberculosis vaccine development, host-pathogen interactions, and immune mechanisms in infectious diseases. Key contributions include defining the role of inflammasomes, CD8+ T cell memory, and mucosal immunity in TB protection. His research has been supported by grants totaling $9.7M from NIH, BMGF, and NHMRC.

Teaching roles include lecturing in Tropical Medicine and tutoring courses in Biochemistry, Clinical Medicine, and Veterinary Science. He co-chairs the CTVD Live Attenuated Vaccines group at the Gates Foundation and serves on advisory councils for TB vaccine initiatives and immunology conferences.

Recent publications highlight breakthroughs in vaccine delivery systems, mucosal immunity, and the gut-lung axis in TB pathogenesis. His work bridges basic science and clinical translation, aiming to combat global health challenges like drug-resistant TB and NTM infections.