Margaret Dunkley

Conjoint Professor Margaret Dunkley is an Honorary Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy at the University of Newcastle, Australia, specializing in Immunology and Microbiology. With over 30 years of experience at the University of Newcastle, she has held various research and academic positions while also working with biotech companies. She currently serves as Chair of the University of Newcastle Biosafety Committee and as a Vice Chancellor nominated employer representative on the University OH&S committee. Additionally, she is employed by Newcastle Innovation as the Chief Scientific Officer for Hunter Immunology Ltd, an unlisted public company focused on vaccine development.

Education:

• PhD (Pathology), University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry)(Honours), University of Melbourne
• Master of Science, University of Melbourne
• Graduate Certificate of Management (Tech Mgt), Deakin University
• Graduate Diploma of Management (Tech Management), Deakin University
• Master of Business Administration, La Trobe University
• Master of Business Administration (Technology Management), La Trobe University

Professor Dunkley's research focuses on immune responses to infectious diseases at mucosal surfaces (lung, intestine, and reproductive tract) and the development of effective mucosal vaccines. Her work spans both basic immunological mechanisms and translational research, with a particular emphasis on respiratory infections caused by pathogens like Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. She has extensive expertise in conducting human clinical trials for vaccine candidates and understanding the immunological basis of diseases such as COPD and neutrophilic asthma. Her research integrates animal models with human studies to bridge the gap between fundamental immunology and clinical applications.

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on mucosal immunology and vaccine development, particularly for respiratory infections. The articles show a progression from basic research on immune mechanisms to clinical applications, with increasing emphasis on human trials in the more recent work. A significant portion of her research examines the relationship between bacterial infections (especially Haemophilus influenzae) and respiratory conditions like COPD and asthma, investigating how mucosal vaccines might prevent or mitigate these conditions. Her work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration across immunology, pulmonology, and microbiology.

Grants and Funding:

• 16 grants totaling $789,755
• NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council) grants
• Biotechnology Innovation Fund (AUS-industry) grants
• University of Newcastle internal grants
• ARC (Australian Research Council) grants

Professor Dunkley has successfully supervised six research students to completion, including PhD and Honours students. Her supervision projects have covered diverse topics such as art psychotherapy for melanoma patients, Haemophilus influenzae in neutrophilic asthma models, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine development. She collaborates extensively with researchers across immunology, infectious diseases, and vaccine development, working with institutions including the Hunter Medical Research Institute (as a member of the VIVA group) and various biotech companies. Her industry experience has been instrumental in translating basic research into potential therapeutic applications.

As Chief Scientific Officer for Hunter Immunology Ltd, Professor Dunkley oversees the R&D Unit located within the School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy in the David Maddison Clinical Sciences Building. In this role, she interacts with manufacturing and pre-clinical and clinical research contractors to advance vaccine development projects. Her dual academic-industry position allows her to bridge fundamental research with practical applications, ensuring that scientific discoveries can be translated into real-world health solutions.