Katie Baines

Katie Baines is an Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle, affiliated with the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy. She serves as Deputy Director and Theme Leader of the Surgical and Transplant Immunology theme at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. Her research focuses on molecular characterization of immune dysfunction in diseases such as chronic respiratory conditions and end-stage kidney disease, utilizing omics technologies to identify diagnostic tools for precision medicine. She holds a PhD and Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Hons) from the University of Newcastle.

Her research interests span immunology, inflammation, and respiratory diseases, with a particular emphasis on asthma and COPD. She has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including studies on neutrophil extracellular traps, inflammasome activation, and dietary interventions in asthma. Her work bridges laboratory research and clinical applications, aiming to improve diagnostics and therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases.

Key areas of investigation include the role of neutrophils in asthma exacerbations, the impact of obesity on respiratory inflammation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation. She collaborates widely, engaging in multidisciplinary projects to advance understanding of translational immunology in clinical settings.