Dominic De Nardo

Dr. Dominic De Nardo is a Research Fellow leading the Innate Immune Signalling Group within the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute. His research program focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling innate immune responses, with particular emphasis on the cytosolic DNA sensing pathway and cGAS-STING signaling.

Dr. De Nardo received his PhD in 2009 from the University of Melbourne, where he investigated macrophage activation through Toll-like receptors. His academic journey continued with a postdoctoral position at the Institute of Innate Immunity in Bonn, Germany, working with Professor Eicke Latz. During this period, he identified the molecular mechanism underlying HDL's ability to reduce inflammation, published in Nature Immunology. He returned to Australia in late 2014 to work at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research before joining Monash University in 2019.

His research spans multiple areas of innate immunity including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), Inflammasomes, and cytosolic nucleic acid sensing receptors (cGAS-STING). Dr. De Nardo has published extensively in top journals such as Nature Immunology, Cell, Immunity, and Nature Communications, with over 50 research outputs documented. His recent work has focused on STING pathway regulation, TBK1/IKKε signaling, and the interplay between innate immunity and various disease states including viral infections and metabolic disorders. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on STING pathway mechanics, kinase regulation in immune responses, and translational applications for inflammatory diseases.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with multiple prestigious awards:

• Inaugural Prof. Graham Brown Student Publication Prize (2009)
• Seymour and Vivian Milstein Young Investigator Award (2014)
• Milstein Travel Award – International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS) (2018)
• Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) Breakthrough Immunology Award (2023)
• Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship, FMNHS, Monash University (2020)

Dr. De Nardo is actively engaged in academic service, serving as Associate Editor for the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Co-Chair of the ASI Innate Immunity Special Interest Group, and as a member of the ASI Awards Judging Panel. He has held positions on the Monash BDI Mid-Career Researcher committee and serves as an external grant reviewer for the UK Medical Research Council. His research group contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through work on health and well-being.

Dr. De Nardo leads the Innate Immune Signalling Group, which comprises researchers investigating molecular mechanisms of innate immune activation. His group's work has received significant media attention, including coverage of their research on STING signaling mechanisms that was picked up by multiple news outlets and shared widely on social media platforms.