Demelza Ireland

Dr. Demelza Ireland is an Associate Professor and Head of Discipline for Medical Science and Genetics at the School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia. She holds roles in academic governance, including membership on the Academic Board and Education Committee. Her research focuses on cancer immunotherapy, inflammation-driven preterm birth prevention, and women’s health education. She has led projects addressing placental inflammation, maternal immune responses to Ureaplasma spp., and the application of tea tree oil in oncology. Ireland has secured grants for studies on sudden infant death syndrome biomarkers and colorectal cancer immunotherapy. Her teaching excellence is recognized through awards like the UWA Student Guild Student Choice Award (2020) and AAUT Australian Award for University Teaching Excellence (2019).

Education: PhD in Biomedical Science (UWA, 2007), Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Immunology (UWA, 2003), Diploma in German (UWA, 2003).

Research Interests: Combines immunology and obstetrics to address preterm birth mechanisms, maternal-fetal immune interactions, and translational therapies for cancer and infection. Active in developing predictive biomarkers for infant mortality and optimizing antenatal steroid therapies.

Publications: Recent work includes studies on breastfeeding challenges in multiple-birth mothers, semen quality trends, and genetic influences on antenatal steroid responses in ovine models. Her articles bridge clinical, translational, and basic science approaches.

Awards: Senior Fellow – Higher Education Academy (2022), UWA Faculty of Health Teaching Excellence Award (2019).

Grants: Includes Red Nose-funded research into sudden infant death biomarkers and WIRF grants for microbiome studies in pregnancy. Collaborates internationally on preterm birth prevention and tumor immunotherapy.