Jana Vukovic

Professor Jana Vukovic is a neuroimmunologist at the Queensland Brain Institute and School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland. She leads the Neuroimmunology and Cognition team, focusing on microglia and peripheral immune cells' roles in learning, memory, and neuroinflammatory conditions.

• Education: PhD (2008, University of Western Australia)

Research interests span microglial regulation of adult neurogenesis, traumatic brain injury mechanisms, cancer treatment-induced cognitive deficits, neuroinflammation in aging, and exercise-induced brain repair. Her work integrates genetic/pharmacological tools with behavioral assays to link immune activity to cognition.

Recent article trends emphasize microglial responses in TBI, GVHD, and aging, with subfields like CX3CR1 signaling, ROCK2 inhibition, and neuroimmune rejuvenation. Key collaborations include Professor Perry F. Bartlett, Professor Marc J. Ruitenberg, and Dr. Emily F. Willis.

• Scientific awards:
  • ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2015-2018)
  • Queensland Government Smart Futures Fellowship
  • Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship (2021-2025)

Supervision includes PhD students studying microglia in neurotrauma, dopaminergic circuits post-injury, and neuroimmune crosstalk. Her lab operates within Queensland Brain Institute’s state-of-the-art facilities.