Shane Grey

Professor Shane Grey is Head of School at the University of New South Wales' School of Biotech & Biomolecular Science (BABS). He leads a biomedical research team with expertise spanning immunology, genetics, and transplantation biology, focusing particularly on diabetes and inflammatory disease mechanisms.

Grey completed his B.Sc. in Physiology/Genetics at La Trobe University (1984), followed by B.Sc. Honours in Immunology at Monash University (1988), and a Ph.D. in Immunology at Monash University (1991-1996). After postdoctoral studies in Transplant Immunology at Harvard Medical School (1996-1998), he served as Instructor in Surgery (1998-2000) and Assistant Professor in Surgery (2001-2004) at Harvard before joining the Garvan Institute in 2004.

Professor Grey's research centers on the genetic control of inflammation, particularly how the TNFAIP3 gene and NF-kB system interact to impact tissue and immune cell inflammation, immunological tolerance, and human disease. His work has significant implications for diabetes treatment and transplantation medicine, with over 100 career publications garnering approximately 9,700 citations and an h-index of 53. Recent work has focused on engineering islets for tolerance with protective genes, islet transplantation techniques, and understanding the role of immune cell autofluorescence in disease monitoring.

His publication record shows consistent productivity across immunology, diabetes research, and transplantation fields, with recent work increasingly incorporating advanced imaging techniques for cellular analysis and viability assessment. The research demonstrates a clear trajectory from fundamental immunological mechanisms toward clinical applications in diabetes treatment and transplantation.

• NSW BioFirst Award (2003)
• ARC Future Fellowship (2009)
• Key Opinion Leader in transplantation by The Transplantation Society International (2007)
• JDRF-Macquarie Group Foundation Innovation Award (2010)
• TSANZ Ian McKenzie Prize for outstanding contributions in Transplantation (2012)
• NHMRC Fellowships (2013, 2018)

Professor Grey has led and worked within multi-disciplinary teams including clinical and basic researchers across diverse ARC- and NHMRC-funded programs. He has been instrumental in Australia's first clinical islet transplant program and leads a first-in-human safety study testing a novel anti-inflammatory gene therapy in transplantation. His research has strong translational components with direct clinical applications in diabetes management and transplantation medicine.

Through the Garvan Institute and UNSW, Professor Grey has built collaborative research programs connecting laboratory discoveries with clinical applications, particularly in the areas of islet transplantation and inflammation control. His leadership extends to institutional policy development, including serving as Chair of the Good Working Behaviours and Engagement Committees at the Garvan Institute, demonstrating commitment to inclusive and safe working environments.