![Professor Denise Doolan](/sites/default/files/profiles/5677.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Professor Denise Doolan is Director of Research at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. She joined IMB in 2022 and was previously Deputy Director of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, and Director of the JCU Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, at James Cook University.
She is a molecular immunologist, working on the development of vaccines, diagnostics and host-directed therapeutics for infectious and chronic diseases that impact global public health, with a particular focus on malaria. Her cross-disciplinary research program spans host-pathogen immunity, antigen discovery, vaccine engineering, and biomarker discovery. A particular interest is the application of state-of-the-art genome-based technologies and human models of disease system to identify novel targets for intervention against disease or that predict risk of disease.
She is a recognized world expert in malaria immunology, vaccinology, and omic-based approaches for therapeutic and diagnostic development. She has been honoured as a Fellow of the International Society for Vaccines (2017) and a Fellow of the Australian Society of Parasitology (2019) in recognition of her leadership and contribution to health and medical science in Australia and internationally.
Professor Doolan serves on a number of Executive Boards and Advisory Boards. Most recently, she has been elected as President of the International Society for Vaccines (2021-2023), and has been appointed to the Federal Government’s Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB; 2021-2026) to provide specialist insights into Australia’s medical research and innovation priorities.
Availability
- Professor Denise Doolan is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- B Sc Hons (Biochemistry), The University of Queensland
- M Phil (Life Sciences), Griffith University
- PhD (Molecular Immunology), The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Denise Doolan’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
A proteome‐wide analysis unveils a core Epstein–Barr virus antibody signature of classic Hodgkin lymphoma across ethnically diverse populations
Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Xian, Rena R., Liu, Zhiwei, Yu, Kelly J., Chan, John K. C., Kwong, Yok‐Lam, Lam, Tai Hing, Liang, Raymond, Chiu, Brian, Xu, Jun, Hu, Wei, Ji, Bu‐Tian, Coghill, Anna E., Kelly, Ashton M., Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Rothman, Nathaniel, Ambinder, Richard F., Hildesheim, Allan, Lan, Qing, Proietti, Carla and Doolan, Denise L. (2024). A proteome‐wide analysis unveils a core Epstein–Barr virus antibody signature of classic Hodgkin lymphoma across ethnically diverse populations. International Journal of Cancer, 155 (8), 1476-1486. doi: 10.1002/ijc.35072
2024
Journal Article
Optimization and application of bacterial environmental DNA and RNA isolation for qualitative and quantitative studies
Browne, Daniel J., Miller, Catherine M., O'Hara, Emily P., Courtney, Robert, Seymour, Jamie, Doolan, Denise L. and Orr, Ryan (2024). Optimization and application of bacterial environmental DNA and RNA isolation for qualitative and quantitative studies. Environmental DNA, 6 (4) e589. doi: 10.1002/edn3.589
2024
Journal Article
Technical pitfalls when collecting, cryopreserving, thawing, and stimulating human T-cells
Browne, Daniel J., Miller, Catherine M. and Doolan, Denise L. (2024). Technical pitfalls when collecting, cryopreserving, thawing, and stimulating human T-cells. Frontiers in Immunology, 15 1382192. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1382192
2023
Journal Article
Evaluating the stability of host-reference gene expression and simultaneously quantifying parasite burden and host immune responses in murine malaria
Browne, Daniel J., Kelly, Ashton M., Brady, Jamie, Proietti, Carla, Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Pattinson, David J. and Doolan, Denise L. (2023). Evaluating the stability of host-reference gene expression and simultaneously quantifying parasite burden and host immune responses in murine malaria. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 21071, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-48066-9
2023
Journal Article
Association of serum microRNAs with abdominal aortic aneurysm diagnosis and growth
Thanigaimani, Shivshankar, Iyer, Vikram, Bingley, John, Browne, Daniel, Phie, James, Doolan, Denise and Golledge, Jonathan (2023). Association of serum microRNAs with abdominal aortic aneurysm diagnosis and growth. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, 65 (4), 573-581. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2022.12.028
2023
Journal Article
Comparative analysis of the humoral immune response to the EBV proteome across EBV-related malignancies
Argirion, Ilona, Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Proietti, Carla, Coghill, Anna E., Yu, Kelly J., Middeldorp, Jaap M., Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Hsu, Wan-Lun, Chien, Yin-Chu, Lou, Pei-Jen, Wang, Cheng-Ping, Rothman, Nathaniel, Lan, Qing, Chen, Chien-Jen, Mbulaiteye, Sam M., Jarrett, Ruth F., Glimelius, Ingrid, Smedby, Karin E., Hjalgrim, Henrik, Hildesheim, Allan, Doolan, Denise L. and Liu, Zhiwei (2023). Comparative analysis of the humoral immune response to the EBV proteome across EBV-related malignancies. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 32 (5), OF1-OF10. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-22-0452
2023
Journal Article
Recommendations for Epstein-Barr virus-based screening for nasopharyngeal cancer in high- and intermediate-risk regions
Lam, W K Jacky, King, Ann D, Miller, Jacob A, Liu, Zhiwei, Yu, Kelly J, Chua, Melvin L K, Ma, Brigette B Y, Chen, Ming Yuan, Pinsky, Benjamin A, Lou, Pei-Jen, Woo, John K S, Hsu, Wan-Lun, Simon, Julia, Doolan, Denise L, Waterboer, Tim, Hui, Edwin P, Li, Hui, Tsang, Raymond K, Wong, Kenneth C W, Goh, Julian P, Vlantis, Alexander C, Ai, Qi Yong, Wong, Lun M, Abdullah, Victor, Lin, Jin Ching, Chen, Chien-Jen, Pfeiffer, Ruth M, Le, Quynh-Thu, Lee, Anne W M ... Hildesheim, Allan (2023). Recommendations for Epstein-Barr virus-based screening for nasopharyngeal cancer in high- and intermediate-risk regions. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 115 (4), 355-364. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djad012
2022
Journal Article
Characterizing and correcting immune dysfunction in non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease
Ratnatunga, Champa N., Tungatt, Katie, Proietti, Carla, Halstrom, Sam, Holt, Michael R., Lutzky, Viviana P., Price, Patricia, Doolan, Denise L., Bell, Scott C., Field, Matt A., Kupz, Andreas, Thomson, Rachel M. and Miles, John J. (2022). Characterizing and correcting immune dysfunction in non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 1047781, 1-20. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1047781
2022
Journal Article
Novel antiinflammatory biologics shaped by parasite-host coevolution
Ryan, Stephanie M., Ruscher, Roland, Johnston, Wayne A., Pickering, Darren A., Kennedy, Malcolm W., Smith, Brian O., Jones, Linda, Buitrago, Geraldine, Field, Matt A., Esterman, Adrian J., McHugh, Connor P., Browne, Daniel J., Cooper, Martha M., Ryan, Rachael Y M, Doolan, Denise L., Engwerda, Christian R., Miles, Kim, Mitreva, Makedonka, Croese, John, Rahman, Tony, Alexandrov, Kirill, Giacomin, Paul R. and Loukas, Alex (2022). Novel antiinflammatory biologics shaped by parasite-host coevolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119 (36) 2202795119, 1-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2202795119
2022
Journal Article
The effect of tropical temperatures on the quality of RNA extracted from stabilized whole-blood samples
Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Browne, Daniel J., Kelly, Ashton M., Pattinson, David J., Rush, Catherine M., Warner, Jeffrey, Proietti, Carla and Doolan, Denise L. (2022). The effect of tropical temperatures on the quality of RNA extracted from stabilized whole-blood samples. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23 (18) 10609, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/ijms231810609
2022
Journal Article
A high-throughput screening RT-qPCR assay for quantifying surrogate markers of immunity from PBMCs
Browne, Daniel J., Kelly, Ashton M., Brady, Jamie L. and Doolan, Denise L. (2022). A high-throughput screening RT-qPCR assay for quantifying surrogate markers of immunity from PBMCs. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 962220, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.962220
2022
Journal Article
CD161 expression defines new human γδ T cell subsets
Karunathilaka, Amali, Halstrom, Samuel, Price, Patricia, Holt, Michael, Lutzky, Viviana P., Doolan, Denise L., Kupz, Andreas, Bell, Scott C., Thomson, Rachel M., Miles, John J. and Ratnatunga, Champa N. (2022). CD161 expression defines new human γδ T cell subsets. Immunity and Ageing, 19 (1) 11, 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s12979-022-00269-w
2022
Journal Article
Meet the fellows: Everything about ISV
Doolan, Denise, Lu, Shan, Ross, Ted and Cox, Manon (2022). Meet the fellows: Everything about ISV. Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 18 (4) 2096964. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2096964
2022
Journal Article
Proteomic identification of the contents of small extracellular vesicles from in vivo Plasmodium yoelii infection
De Sousa, Karina P., Potriquet, Jeremy, Mulvenna, Jason, Sotillo, Javier, Groves, Penny L., Loukas, Alex, Apte, Simon H. and Doolan, Denise L. (2022). Proteomic identification of the contents of small extracellular vesicles from in vivo Plasmodium yoelii infection. International Journal for Parasitology, 52 (1), 35-45. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.06.001
2022
Journal Article
Identifying Epstein-Barr virus peptide sequences associated with differential IgG antibody response
Coghill, Anna E., Fang, Jianwen, Liu, Zhiwei, Chen, Chien-Jen, Jarrett, Ruth F., Hjalgrim, Henrik, Proietti, Carla, Yu, Kelly J., Hsu, Wan-Lun, Lou, Pei-Jen, Wang, Chen-Ping, Zhao, Yingdong, Doolan, Denise L. and Hildesheim, Allan (2022). Identifying Epstein-Barr virus peptide sequences associated with differential IgG antibody response. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 114, 65-71. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.10.054
2021
Journal Article
Malaria research in Australia: looking through the lens of the past towards the future
Doolan, Denise L. (2021). Malaria research in Australia: looking through the lens of the past towards the future. International Journal for Parasitology, 51 (13-14), 1255-1263. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.11.005
2021
Journal Article
Characterization of the humoral immune response to the EBV proteome in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma
Liu, Zhiwei, Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Chan, John K. C., Kwong, Yok-Lam, Lam, Tai Hing, Ip, Dennis Kai Ming, Chiu, Brian C. -H., Xu, Jun, Su, Yu-Chieh, Proietti, Carla, Cooper, Martha M., Yu, Kelly J., Bassig, Bryan, Liang, Raymond, Hu, Wei, Ji, Bu-Tian, Coghill, Anna E., Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Hildesheim, Allan, Rothman, Nathaniel, Doolan, Denise L. and Lan, Qing (2021). Characterization of the humoral immune response to the EBV proteome in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 23664, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-02788-w
2021
Journal Article
Systems serology detects functionally distinct coronavirus antibody features in children and elderly
Selva, Kevin J., van de Sandt, Carolien E., Lemke, Melissa M., Lee, Christina Y., Shoffner, Suzanne K., Chua, Brendon Y., Davis, Samantha K., Nguyen, Thi H. O., Rowntree, Louise C., Hensen, Luca, Koutsakos, Marios, Wong, Chinn Yi, Mordant, Francesca, Jackson, David C., Flanagan, Katie L., Crowe, Jane, Tosif, Shidan, Neeland, Melanie R., Sutton, Philip, Licciardi, Paul V., Crawford, Nigel W., Cheng, Allen C., Doolan, Denise L., Amanat, Fatima, Krammer, Florian, Chappell, Keith, Modhiran, Naphak, Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul ... Chung, Amy W. (2021). Systems serology detects functionally distinct coronavirus antibody features in children and elderly. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 2037, 2037. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22236-7
2021
Journal Article
A point-of-care lateral flow assay for neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2
Fulford, Thomas S., Van, Huy, Gherardin, Nicholas A., Zheng, Shuning, Ciula, Marcin, Drummer, Heidi E., Redmond, Samuel, Tan, Hyon-Xhi, Boo, Irene, Center, Rob J., Li, Fan, Grimley, Samantha L., Wines, Bruce D., Nguyen, Thi H. O., Mordant, Francesca L., Ellenberg, Paula, Rowntree, Louise C., Kedzierski, Lukasz, Cheng, Allen C., Doolan, Denise L., Matthews, Gail, Bond, Katherine, Hogarth, P. Mark, McQuilten, Zoe, Subbarao, Kanta, Kedzierska, Katherine, Juno, Jennifer A., Wheatley, Adam K., Kent, Stephen J. ... Godfrey, Dale (2021). A point-of-care lateral flow assay for neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. EBioMedicine, 74 103729, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103729
2021
Journal Article
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical management and public health response
Doolan, Denise L., Kozlakidis, Zisis, Zhang, Zhongheng, Paessler, Slobodan, Su, Longxiang, Yokota, Yasuko Tsunetsugu, Shioda, Tatsuo, Rodriguez-Palacios, Alexander, Kaynar, Ata Murat, Ahmed, Rukhsana, Samy, Abdallah, Bradby, Hannah, Kalergis, Alexis M., Dutta, Mohan Jyoti, Kogut, Michael and Zhang, Shen-Ying (2021). Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical management and public health response. Frontiers in Public Health, 9 807159, 1-2. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.807159
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Denise Doolan is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
UNDERSTANDING THE LINK BETWEEN EBV AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
An opportunity exists for a PhD position in molecular immunology, where cutting-edge technologies will be applied to understand the molecular basis of the link between EBV and Multiple Sclerosis. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the top identified causative agent of Multiple Sclerosis, but how this occurs is not known. This project aims to apply an innovative approach using proteome-wide screening of EBV to identify the subset of EBV proteins from the complete EBV proteome that triggers MS. It will compare responses in individuals with different stages of MS and apply sophisticated computational analytics to identify specific EBV proteins that predict MS disease. This EBV signature of MS could be translated into a clinic-friendly point-of-care test. If successful, this project could revolutionize the diagnosis and management of MS, providing patients with a quicker and more accurate diagnosis and enhanced quality of life.
Subject areas: Immunology, Molecular immunology, Systems biology, Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmunity, EBV
Eligibility: Entry: Bachelor degree with Honours Class I (or equivalent via outstanding record of professional or research achievements) Experience/Background: laboratory-based experience in immunology, host-pathogen interactions, immune regulation and infectious diseases; excellent computer, communication, and organisational skills are required.
Supervisors:
Professor Denise Doolan & Dr Carla Proietti
-
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY OF MALARIA
An opportunity exists for a PhD position in the molecular immunology of malaria. The focus of this project will be to apply cutting-edge technologies to understand the molecular basis of protective immunity to malaria. It will take advantage of controlled human infection models and as well as animal models to explore the mechanisms underlying protective immunity to malaria and immune responsiveness. Using a range of interdisciplinary approaches, including immune profiling, transcriptomics, proteomics, and small molecule characterization, the project aims to define the critical cells and signalling pathways required for protective immunity against malaria. It is anticipated that this research will have broad application to a wide range of infectious and chronic diseases, with important implications for vaccination.
Subject areas: Immunology, Molecular immunology, Systems biology, Vaccinology, Malaria
Eligibility: Entry: Bachelor degree with Honours Class I (or equivalent via outstanding record of professional or research achievements) Experience/Background: laboratory-based experience in immunology, host-pathogen interactions, immune regulation and infectious diseases; excellent computer, communication, and organisational skills are required.
Supervisors:
Professor Denise Doolan (IMB) & Dr Carla Proietti (IMB)
-
VACCINE ENGINEERING
An opportunity exists for a PhD position in vaccine engineering. Vaccines are one of the most effective health care interventions but remain a challenge for many diseases, and in particular intracellular pathogens such as malaria where T cell responses are particularly desirable. We have been exploring novel approaches to rationally design an effective vaccine against challenging disease targets. By taking advantage of recent advances in genomic sequencing, proteomics, transcriptional profiling, and molecular immunology, we have discovered unique targets of T cell responses or antibody response. This project will test these antigens as vaccine candidates by assessing immunogenicity, protective capacity and biological function using different vaccine platforms. By designing an effective vaccine from genomic data, this project is expected to result in significance advances in vaccinology as well as immunology, with important public health outcomes.
Subject areas: Immunology, Vaccinology, Molecular immunology, Malaria, Vaccine engineering, Vaccine design
Eligibility: Entry: Bachelor degree with Honours Class I (or equivalent via outstanding record of professional or research achievements) Experience/Background: laboratory-based experience in immunology, host-pathogen interactions, immune regulation and infectious diseases; excellent computer, communication, and organisational skills are required.
Supervisor:
Professor Denise Doolan (IMB) & Professor Carla Proietti (IMB)
-
SYSTEMS IMMUNOLOGY AND MULTI-OMICS APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY TO HUMAN MALARIA
This PhD project aims to develop and apply computational approaches that integrate systems biology and molecular immunology to understand host-pathogen immunity and predict immune control of malaria. The project will utilise systems-based immunology and multi-omics approaches to profile the host immune response in controlled infection models of malaria at molecular, cellular, transcriptome and proteome-wide scale.
The overall aim will be to develop and apply omics-based technologies and computational tools, including network theory and machine learning, to integrate multiple high-dimensional datasets and reveal novel insights into host-pathogen immunity and predict immune responsiveness and parasite control. Modelling of large-scale existing datasets, including those generated by single-cell RNA-sequencing technologies, may also be a feature of this project. The opportunity to identify new knowledge and integrate this with experimental data produced by our laboratory will be instrumental to extending the impact of these bioinformatics analyses. This project will provide an opportunity to be at the forefront in cutting-edge technologies and advances in computational analysis of integrated high-dimensional omic data.
Methodologies: Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, Immunology, Systems Immunology, Systems Biology, Genomics/Proteomics/Transcriptomics, Molecular and Cell Biology, Statistics
Eligibility: Entry: BSc Honours Class I (or equivalent via outstanding record of professional or research achievements) Experience/Background: Experience with programming languages, mathematics, statistics and/or background in immunology and molecular sciences, with an interest in integrating the fields of immunology and bioinformatics.
Excellent computer, communication, and organisational skills are required. Forward thinking, innovation and creativity are encouraged.
Supervisors:
Professor Denise Doolan (IMB) & Dr Carla Proietti (IMB)
Associate Professor Jessica Mar (AIBN)
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Defining the molecular basis of immune heterogeneity between individuals using immunoproteomics
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Systems immunology and multi-omics approaches to understand protective immunity to human malaria
Principal Advisor
Completed supervision
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of cross-reactive immune responses in the context of a complex host-pathogen system.
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular profiling of cellular immune responses to Plasmodium spp. blood-stage infection in humans using systems immunology
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of novel DNA vaccine delivery strategies targeting dendritic cells: mechanisms of action, immunogenicity and protective efficacy
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of novel antigens identified in genome-wide screening approaches for next-generation malaria vaccines
Principal Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Design and use of a schistosome protein microarray to investigate Asian schistosomiasis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Malcolm Jones
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Professor Denise Doolan's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: