Jamie jointly awarded Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Excellence

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Professor Jamie Rossjohn, Head of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s (BDI) Infection and Immunity Program, has been awarded the distinguished Royal Society of Victoria’s (RSV) Medal for Excellence in Scientific Research in Category II: Biomedical and Health Sciences.

The Research Medal recognises peak research career achievements and outstanding leadership in research by scientists working in the State of Victoria.

Professor Rossjohn’s research is centred on understanding immunity – how it can be attuned to more effectively address diseases like the various forms of cancer, or potentially “switched off” to provide relief from allergies or the rejection of implants and transplants.

He is currently an ARC Australian Laureate Fellow (2017-2021) and was previously a NHMRC Australia Fellow (2011-2016) and ARC Federation Fellow (2007-11).

Professor Rossjohn was presented his Medal by Her Excellency, the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, last night at the Royal Society of Victoria. He then gave a short talk on his field of enquiry.

RSV President David Zerman emphasised that the Medal is not just about discovery and innovation, but also about fostering and supporting a thriving research community and workforce to achieve collective impact.

“Some of this is demonstrated through a scholar’s personal output of journal articles and the related citations, or through patents and commercialisation, but it is also the research ecosystem that a leader supports through mentorship, collaboration and public engagement,” Mr Zerman said.

“We look very favourably on research leaders who bring effective teams together, and who actively promote younger scientists in particular, either through direct supervision, co-authorship of major papers, or simply creating opportunities for meaningful, purposeful work in an intensely competitive job market,” he said.

Professor Rossjohn is known for his contributions to the understanding the molecular basis underpinning immunity. He has used structural biology to explain pre-T-cell receptor (TCR) self-association in T-cell development, and how the TCR specifically recognises polymorphic Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules in the context of viral immunity and aberrant T-cell reactivity. He has unearthed structural mechanisms of HLA polymorphism impacting on drug and food hypersensitivities, as well as Natural Killer cell receptor recognition. He has pioneered our molecular understanding of lipid-based immunity by T cells, revealing that it can differ fundamentally from peptide-mediated adaptive immunity. Recently he has provided a structural basis of how vitamin B metabolites can be presented and recognised by the immune system, revealing a new class of antigen. Collectively, he has published more than 365 papers and mentored numerous researchers towards obtaining higher degrees and nationally competitive fellowships.

Original article

This article is based on the announcement made by the Royal Society of Victoria.

Jamie ranked as a 2018 Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics

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Two Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) researchers have been recognised for their exceptional research performance, determined by production of multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top one per cent by citations for a field and year.

Professor Jamie Rossjohn and Professor Charles Mackay have each been ranked as a 2018 Highly Cited Researcher in the prestigious list released on Tuesday 27 November by Clarivate Analytics.

As Head of the Monash BDI’s Infection and Immunity Program, Professor Rossjohn’s research is centered on an understanding immunity. Professor Rossjohn has used structural biology to explain pre-T- cell receptor (TCR) self-association in T-cell development, and how the TCR specifically recognises polymorphic Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules in the context of viral immunity and aberrant T- cell reactivity. He has unearthed structural mechanisms of HLA polymorphism impacting on drug and food hypersensitivities, as well as Natural Killer cell receptor recognition. He has pioneered our molecular understanding of lipid-based immunity by T cells, revealing that it can differ fundamentally from peptide-mediated adaptive immunity.

Professor Mackay has forged a new understanding of the gut microbiome and the important role it plays in immune responses including allergies and in a number of diseases including type 1 diabetes. His research into how immune responses can be manipulated using ‘medicinal foods’, as well as novel gut microbial species, is attracting both clinical and public interest, with the latest research findings moving to clinical trials.

He was highly cited from 2005 to 2010 under what was then the Institute for Scientific Information citation, and was again identified as a Highly Cited Researcher last year.

“I’m both humbled and honoured to be part of this distinguished list, and hope that I continue to be highly cited in the future,” Professor Mackay said.

Professor John Carroll, Director of the Monash BDI, congratulated both researchers on their achievement.

“It is great to see Monash BDI scientists once again recognised as international luminaries. This sort of acknowledgement demonstrates the calibre of research conducted here at the Monash BDI. Congratulations to both Jamie and Charles,” Professor Carroll said.

Now in its fifth year, this annual list identifies the most influential researchers as determined by their peers around the globe. A new ‘cross-field’ category was added this year to recognise researchers with substantial influence in several fields, but who do not have enough highly cited papers in any one field to be chosen.

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Outstanding contribution to diversity and inclusion

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The Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity and Inclusion Awards recognise students and staff who have made an outstanding contribution to supporting diversity and fostering inclusion at Monash. Recipients of these awards have gone above and beyond to further inclusion, connection and belonging for people from disadvantaged or marginalised groups.

The team behind the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI)Sensory Scientific Exhibit were recognised at the recent 2018 Vice Chancellor’s Diversity and Inclusion Awards.

The Sensory Science Exhibition was initially put together in May this year for a special event for members of the blind and low vision community, giving them the opportunity to explore the world of infection and immunity through a specifically designed, interactive exhibit.

Including a range of accessible activities and tactile displays, the exhibit highlights research areas such as vaccination, the evolution of flu viruses, and the process of how our bodies recognise pathogens.

There are plans to share the exhibit across Australia, starting by assisting the University of New South Wales in setting up their own sensory exhibit.

The team was also recognised for their work experience program, aimed at providing members of the blind and low vision community with an opportunity to get hands-on experience in a biomedical research laboratory. This program began when Professor Rossjohn put out the call for anyone interested in completing work experience in his lab at the inaugural Sensory Scientific Exhibition and Discovery Day earlier in the year. They have had one student complete the program, with more interested in doing so in 2019.

Congratulations to all Monash BDI recipients of the award:

  • Professor Jamie Rossjohn
  • Dr Gabrielle Watson
  • Professor Nicole La Gruta
  • Professor Ramesh Rajan
  • Dr Erica Tandori
  • Sabrina Constantin

This initiative exemplifies best practice both in developing teaching programs and experiential learning, and engaging with the wider community to encourage participation by a diverse range of people.

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Sensory Scientific Showcase brings infection and immunity research to life for low vision community

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Monash University recently opened its doors to the low vision community with an inaugural Sensory Scientific Exhibition and Discovery Day. Held on May 31 to coincide with the end of Macula Month, over 80 attendees had the opportunity to explore the world of immunity and infection through interactive exhibits specifically designed for a low or no vision audience.

This innovative event was conceived by Professor Jamie Rossjohn, ARC Australian Laureate Fellow and Head of the Immunity and Infection Program of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI).  “I thought it would be great for us to take the time to talk about what we do and make sure that it’s completely accessible for people who are blind or have low vision,” said Professor Rossjohn.

Led by Professor Rossjohn and Dr Gabby Watson, researchers from the BDI Infection and Immunity created a range of accessible activities and displays to highlight their exciting research. Artist in residence, Dr Erica Tandori, collaborated with the Rossjohn lab to create a collection of tactile materials and models that detail aspects of vaccination, the evolution of flu viruses, and the process of how our bodies recognise pathogens.

From experiencing the different smells of microbes, using the lab tools of a superbug researcher and being immersed in the 360-degree CAVE 2, visitors took part in a range of discovery activities engaging the full range of senses.

Genie Lim bought her two young sons from Mount View Primary School to take part in the half-day event. “I’m so proud the university is making an effort to engage with the outside community” she commented.

“Events like this open up the university and my kids are now saying they want to come here! It’s really inspiring – we hope you run this every year.”

The enriching event was enjoyed by attendees of all ages, and the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute looks forward to expanding on the event’s success in the future.

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Jamie launches Sensory Scientific Exhibition and Discovery Day

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ARC Australian Laureate Fellow, Professor Jamie Rossjohn, and colleagues, are helping people with low or no vision to experience the fruits of the latest infection and immunity research through a special Sensory Scientific Exhibition and Discovery Day, held at the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University.

“The Australian Laureate Fellowship really gives you a chance to do something different,” says Professor Rossjohn, who is a Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, and Infection and Immunity Program leader within the Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University.

“I had been employing people in my research group for sixteen years, but had never employed someone with a disability. Taking proactive measures, one of the first people who I employed was someone with low vision. This experience has really ‘opened my eyes’ to the possibilities for vision impaired people by looking past the disability, to the ability,” says Professor Rossjohn.

Professor Rossjohn says that he realised that this was a community that often didn’t get to hear about science, and that unless scientists made it accessible and employed engaging efforts to explain their research breakthroughs, even revolutionary events like the invention of the microscope could remain intangible to someone who had low or no vision.

Driven by this, Professor Rossjohn’s research team, spearheaded by project leader, Dr Gabby Watson, and other Infection and Immunity laboratories at Monash, organised a half-day scientific exhibition at Monash University, targeted towards a vision impaired community.

The event was held on 31 May 2018 to coincide with Macula Month, and had the full support of Vision Australia and Monash University. Researchers developed an innovative program targeted at those who have low vision or are blind, complete with tactile 3D models, 2D graphic displays, olfactory displays, large print and braille formats,all specifically geared to a low vision/blind audience.

To guide them expertly and creatively in this process, the research team engaged Dr Erica Tandori, who is legally blind, as artist-in-residence for three months to design and develop tactile materials and models that detailed aspects of vaccination, the evolution of flu viruses, and the process of how our bodies recognise pathogens.

Some of the displays included 3D-printed models of immune cells, sounds which were synchronised to live videos of immune cells, and even a section which featured ‘smells from a microbiology lab’. All the models were accompanied by descriptions in both large text and braille. Participants were also able to experience Monash University’s CAVE2 facility which is a 360-degree immersive experience that had immune molecules projected onto enormous surround screens.

Professor Rossjohn says that he considered the event to be a successful showcase of the great science being undertaken at Monash University, which particularly highlighted the latest breakthroughs in infection and immunity research.

Approximately 90 guests attended the exhibition, ranging from primary school students to grandparents. “Most of all, I want people to have a rewarding and educational time,” said Professor Rossjohn.

Professor Rossjohn is using his Australian Laureate Fellowship, ‘A molecular investigation into immune function’, to understand how immune reaction events enable immunity. The project is using multidisciplinary approaches empowered by technological innovations, including the latest advances in atomic and molecular imaging. The research is expected to identify new approaches for the biotechnology industry.

Group Image: Left to Right: Project Leader Dr Gabby Watson, ARC Australian Laureate Fellow Professor Jamie Rossjohn, Ms Liz Visher (ARC), Dr Erica Tandoori, Mr Wayne Seary (ARC). Credit: Hynesite Photography & Monash University.

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