Nicole Hansbro

Dr. Nicole Hansbro is a Senior Research Fellow and Lab Manager at the Centenary Institute's Centre for Inflammation, affiliated with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of respiratory diseases, including COPD, lung cancer, and SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, with an emphasis on translational strategies for vaccine development and novel therapeutic interventions. She leads projects investigating the role of inflammation, immune modulation, and cellular signaling pathways in disease progression.

Key research initiatives include studying the impact of cigarette smoke on lung immunity, leveraging microbiome interactions to mitigate COPD exacerbations, and developing nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. Dr. Hansbro has contributed to preclinical models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, identifying novel vaccine adjuvants and immunomodulatory therapies to combat viral immunopathology. Her work spans experimental therapeutics, molecular virology, and oncology, with a focus on translating findings into clinical applications.

Notable collaborations include studies on chimeric spike antigen vaccines, MAIT cell modulation via cigarette smoke metabolites, and the role of WNT/β-catenin signaling in smoking-induced carcinogenesis. She is actively involved in grant-funded projects exploring COPD pathogenesis, lung fibrosis, and the therapeutic potential of microbial transfer therapies.

Dr. Hansbro's research has been highlighted in high-impact journals such as NPJ Vaccines, J Exp Med, and Nature Communications, reflecting her contributions to advancing respiratory disease treatments through innovative experimental approaches.