Megan Denise Lenardon

Dr. Megan Denise Lenardon is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where she leads an active research program focused on Candida albicans pathogenesis and antifungal development. She obtained her BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from UNSW in 2000 and completed her PhD in Molecular Genetics in 2005 under Prof. Ian Dawes. Following this, she conducted postdoctoral research with Profs. Neil Gow and Al Brown at the Aberdeen Fungal Group (AFG) at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Her educational background includes:

• BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from UNSW (2000)
• PhD in Molecular Genetics from UNSW (2005)

Dr. Lenardon's research focuses on translating fundamental fungal cell biology into innovative medical mycology solutions. Her work centers on Candida albicans cell wall structure and biosynthesis, particularly the regulation of chitin synthesis, immune recognition of fungal components, and stress responses. She established her independent research group in 2012 after receiving a Medical Research Council (UK) New Investigator award and returned to UNSW in 2017. Her research addresses the urgent clinical need for new diagnostics and therapies for invasive candidiasis, which causes over 1.5 million cases of candidaemia annually worldwide with a 35% mortality rate even with treatment.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on three major research trajectories: (1) detailed investigation of Candida cell wall structure using advanced imaging techniques, (2) development of novel antifungal polymers in collaboration with chemical engineers, and (3) exploration of gut microbiome interactions with Candida to develop microbiome-based therapeutics. Her work bridges fundamental fungal biology with clinical applications, demonstrating a strong translational research approach.

Professional recognition includes:

• Medical Research Council (UK) New Investigator award (2012)
• Editorial Board Member of The Cell Surface
• Convenor of the Eukaryotic Microbes Special Interest Group of the Australian Society for Microbiology

Dr. Lenardon actively supervises numerous research students and has secured funding from multiple international sources. She serves on the ASM NSW/ACT branch committee and reviews grants for Australian, British, Canadian, and French funding bodies. Her teaching responsibilities include coordinating MICR2011 Microbiology 1 and lecturing in several other courses including Microbial Genetics and Medical Biotechnology.

She leads a research team focused on fungal pathogenesis with laboratory facilities in the Biosciences South Building (Room 4103) at UNSW. Her collaborative network includes Prof. Cyrille Boyer in the School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering at UNSW and Dr. Sascha Brunke at the HKI in Jena, Germany, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to tackling fungal infections.