Massimo Hilliard

Professor Massimo Hilliard is a NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Professor at The University of Queensland's Queensland Brain Institute. He leads the Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology group, affiliated with the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms regulating neuronal development, maintenance, and repair using C. elegans as a model. Key areas include axonal compartmentalization, degeneration prevention, and repair via fusion mechanisms.

Education: PhD in Biological Chemistry (2001, University of Naples), postdoctoral training at UC San Diego, UCSF, and The Rockefeller University.

Research Interests:

• Axonal degeneration and regeneration
• Mechanisms of neuronal polarity and guidance
• Role of fusogens in nerve repair
• Neurodegenerative disease models

Recent Article Trends: Focus on axonal repair mechanisms, neuronal fusion, and neuroprotection strategies. Key topics include SARS-CoV-2-induced neuronal fusion, oxidative stress responses, and dynamin-mediated repair pathways.

Awards:

• NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship
• NHMRC-ARC Dementia Fellowship
• ARC Discovery Project Grant

Grants & Advising: Active grants include ARC and NHMRC funding. Advises PhD students and mentors postdocs in neurobiology and genetics.

Labs/Teams:

• Queensland Brain Institute research group
• Collaborations with Harvard, Georgia Tech, and international institutions