Kathryn Lawlor

Dr. Kathryn Lawlor is an Associate Professor (Research) at the Hudson Institute's Department of Molecular and Translational Science. She leads the Cell Death and Inflammatory Signalling group within the Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases. Her work focuses on molecular mechanisms of inflammatory signaling and cell death pathways. She holds an honorary fellowship at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI).

Education: PhD in Medical Biology (2004) from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and University of Melbourne. Postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge (UK) and WEHI, under Dr. James Vince.

Research Interests: Cross-talk between programmed cell death (e.g., pyroptosis) and inflammatory pathways, inflammasome activation, therapeutic targeting of cell death signaling in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and type 2 diabetes. Current projects include studies on influenza virus infections and mitochondrial apoptosis in immune cells.

Key Collaborations: Active projects with Monash University, Australian Research Council, and international teams. Recent work includes studies on SHARPIN gene mutations and their role in immunodeficiency.

Awards: Recipient of NHMRC CJ Martin Overseas Biomedical Fellowship (post-PhD).