Claire O'Brien

Claire O'Brien is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Science (Virology) at the University of Canberra, leading the Host-Microbe Interactions research group. Previously, she held positions at the Australian National University (ANU) Medical School as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong. She earned her PhD from ANU in 2012, focusing on microbiological aspects of Crohn's disease. Her research investigates gut microbiome dysbiosis in diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), using in vitro co-cultures of bacteria and macrophages. Key projects include studying antimicrobial resistance in retail meat and microbial resilience in IBD patients.

Dr. O'Brien has received prestigious awards, including the Australian Academy of Science France-Australia Fellowship and NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Research Fellowship. Her work spans translational research, such as the 'GUTSY' project addressing sarcopenia in Crohn’s disease, and collaborations on microbiome dynamics. She actively supervises Honours and higher-degree research students in IBD and microbiome-related fields.

Research interests include host-microbe interactions, Crohn's disease pathogenesis, and the role of the microbiome in health. Her lab employs genomic, transcriptomic, and microbiological techniques to uncover mechanisms linking microbial imbalances to disease. She is also engaged in public health initiatives, such as optimizing preconception care and reducing pregnancy complications in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).