Wai-Hong Tham

Professor Wai-Hong Tham is an Academic Lead of the ANU Nanobody Facility at the Australian National University's Research School of Biology, Division of Biomedical Science and Biochemistry. She also holds a joint appointment at WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) as a Lab Head in the Infectious Diseases and Immune Defense Division and serves as co-Chair of the WEHI Biologics Initiative. Her work bridges structural biology, nanobody technology, immuno-epidemiology, and molecular parasitology.

Dr. Tham earned her PhD from Princeton University and completed her B.A. at the University of California, Berkeley. Her educational background in molecular biology and biochemistry laid the foundation for her current research program focused on understanding host-pathogen interactions.

Her research centers on understanding mechanisms of malaria parasite entry and fertilization to develop novel interventions that stop infection and transmission. Her lab has made fundamental discoveries in novel host-pathogen interactions, examining molecular and structural mechanisms to drive rational design of new therapies against malaria. Specific areas include studying parasite adhesins required for entry into human red cells, parasite surface proteins that bind to human complement proteins for immune evasion, and novel parasite proteins involved in fertilization.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on structural biology approaches to understand malaria parasite mechanisms, with increasing application of nanobody technology against both malaria and viral pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and human coronavirus OC43. Her work demonstrates a strategic shift toward therapeutic development while maintaining strong basic science foundations.

Her significant contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards:

• Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Change Agent (2023)
• Bancroft-Mackerras Medal for Excellence, Australian Society of Parasitology (2023)
• Elizabeth Blackburn Biomedical Fellowship, NHMRC (2022)
• International Award, Biochemical Society, UK (2020)
• Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases Research (2019, 2011)
• Burnet Prize (2018)
• David Syme Research Prize (2018)
• HHMI-Wellcome International Research Scholar (2017)

Professor Tham currently leads two major research projects: the ANU Futures Scheme 2.0 (2023-2028) and Antibody-based therapies against infectious diseases (2023-2027), demonstrating sustained funding support for her innovative research program. Her Tham Group focuses on understanding chytrid infection biology alongside malaria research.

Based in Room N3.014, Level 3, Linnaeus Building at ANU, her laboratory combines structural biology techniques with molecular parasitology to investigate fundamental mechanisms of pathogen invasion and develop novel therapeutic approaches targeting both malaria parasites and viral pathogens.