Overview
Background
I am a molecular virologist and ARC DECRA Fellow at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, where I am Deputy Team Leader of the Infection and Immunity theme. My research focuses on RNA virus evolution, host immunity, and RNA technologies for vaccines and therapeutics, linking four connected themes:
- Virus discovery and evolution: identifying and characterising novel viruses across diverse hosts using metatranscriptomics, phylogenetics, and comparative genomics, with particular focus on orthoflaviviruses and orthomyxoviruses
- Host–virus interactions: understanding how innate immune and RNAi pathways shape infection outcomes in mammalian and arthropod systems
- Reverse genetics: developing CPER-based systems, reporter viruses, and replicons for mechanistic virology and rapid hypothesis testing
- RNA platforms: engineering self-amplifying RNA to tune stability, expression, and immune sensing for vaccines and therapeutics
I completed my PhD (2016–2021) at UQ's School of Biological Sciences under Prof. Sassan Asgari, where I characterised the virome of Aedes mosquitoes and their interactions with the endosymbiont Wolbachia. In 2021, I joined Prof. Alexander Khromykh's RNA Virology Laboratory at SCMB. There, I contributed to the development of the SARS-CoV-2 CPER reverse-genetics system and have worked routinely with PC3 pathogens, including West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and SARS-CoV-2. In 2026, I commenced an ARC DECRA Fellowship to investigate how modified nucleotides shape RNA structure, immune sensing, and function in next-generation RNA technologies. My current work is funded by the ARC and NHMRC.
I provide bioinformatics and phylogenetics support within UQ and internationally, and welcome collaborations involving small RNA analysis, virus discovery and metatranscriptomics.
I served on the organising committee of MicroSeq (2023–2025), an Australasian conference promoting microbial sequencing research by early-career researchers. I am the Communications Officer for ASM Queensland (2024–) and an incoming Committee of Management member for the Australasian Virology Society (2026–).
Availability
- Dr Rhys Parry is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Development of self-replicating RNA vaccines and therapeutics.
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Flavivirus evolution and diversity.
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Interferon-antagonistic activities of amino acid residues in the West Nile virus capsid protein identified by deep mutational scanning.
Research impacts
My research contributes to vaccine development, public health preparedness, and the translation of RNA technologies into clinical applications.
Reverse genetics platform with global adoption. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I helped develop the circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER), a reverse-genetics system enabling rapid recovery of RNA viruses. CPER has since been adopted by 16 research groups across 8 countries and used to recover over 25 RNA viruses spanning 7 viral families, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, dengue, and respiratory syncytial virus, and is used routinely to generate vaccine candidates for human and veterinary applications.
Virus discovery and pandemic preparedness
- Discovered and characterised over 35 novel viruses and contributed to collaborative efforts identifying approximately 300 more, including parahenipaviruses, flaviviruses, and influenza-like viruses, across diverse hosts—work that advances understanding of viral emergence and zoonotic risk
- Applied phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses to inform vaccine antigen design for flaviviruses and henipaviruses (MRFF EMCR Grant 2022–2025)
Public engagement and combating misinformation
- Provide expert commentary on virology and emerging infectious diseases to media and fact-checking organisations, including the Australian Associated Press and Health Feedback (Meta)
Works
Search Professor Rhys Parry’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
Mapping the virome in wild-caught Aedes aegypti from Cairns and Bangkok
Zakrzewski, Martha, Rašić, Gordana, Darbro, Jonathan, Krause, Lutz, Poo, Yee S., Filipović, Igor, Parry, Rhys, Asgari, Sassan, Devine, Greg and Suhrbier, Andreas (2018). Mapping the virome in wild-caught Aedes aegypti from Cairns and Bangkok. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 4690, 4690. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22945-y
2018
Journal Article
Upregulation of Aedes aegypti Vago1 by Wolbachia and its effect on dengue virus replication
Asad, Sultan, Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2018). Upregulation of Aedes aegypti Vago1 by Wolbachia and its effect on dengue virus replication. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 92, 45-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.11.008
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Rhys Parry is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Survey of farmers¿ perceptions of gastrointestinal parasites and investigation of prevalence, impact, and control of these parasites on sub-tropical dairy cattle
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Wood, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes, Dr Shahab Ranjbar Nezhad Isfahani, Dr Swaid Abdullah
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Doctor Philosophy
Predicting and preparing for the unfolding evolution of SARS-CoV-2
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Helen Mostafavi, Professor Alexander Khromykh
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Rhys Parry directly for media enquiries about:
- SARS-CoV-2
- Virology
- Virus evolution
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