Overview
Background
Dr Fernando's current research interests include developing needle-free, pain-free, skin patch vaccines. Influenza and human papilloma virus vaccines are used as model vaccines in these studies.
Dr Germain Fernando completed PhD at the University of Arizona, USA, and did post-doctoral research at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA, before joining the University of Queensland in 1989. He has been working in the field of vaccinology for the last 28 years. He has a H-Index of 36.
He is a Senior Consultant at Vaxxas Pty. Ltd, Brisbane, Australia
Publications and Citation Metrics are available at the following website:
http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-3733-2009
Availability
- Dr Germain Fernando is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Institution to be confirmed
- Doctor of Philosophy, Arizona State University
Research interests
-
Vaccinations using a novel needle-free, pain-free, skin patch.
Although effective vaccines are available for combating diseases such as flu and cervical cancer, some people are reluctant to get vaccinated because of the fear of the needle. The needle and syringe first invented in 1853 is still being used because of the convenience to the person administering the vaccine. However this method has many disadvantages: Fear of the needle and the pain of injection, especially among children. Furthermore injection into muscle is less efficient than delivering the vaccine directly to immunologically active cells in the skin. We have designed a skin patch to overcome these disadvantages. We have recently published data to show potent immunity can be induced using very low doses of vaccine delivered by the skin patch. Reference: Fernando et al PLoS One 2010 April 21:5(4), e 10266.
Works
Search Professor Germain Fernando’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
1995
Journal Article
A vaccine conjugate of 'ISCAR' immunocarrier and peptide epitopes of the E7 cervical cancer-associated protein of human papillomavirus type 16 elicits specific Th1- and Th2-type responses in immunized mice in the absence of oil-based adjuvants
Tindle, R. W., Croft, S., Herd, K., Malcolm, K., Geczy, A. F., Stewart, T. and Fernando, G. J. (1995). A vaccine conjugate of 'ISCAR' immunocarrier and peptide epitopes of the E7 cervical cancer-associated protein of human papillomavirus type 16 elicits specific Th1- and Th2-type responses in immunized mice in the absence of oil-based adjuvants. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 101 (2), 265-271. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1995.tb08349.x
Featured
1994
Journal Article
Chimeric hepatitis B core antigen particles containing B- and Th-epitopes of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein induce specific antibody and T-helper responses in immunised mice
Tindle, Robert W., Herd, Karen, Londoño, Patricia, Fernando, Germain J. P., Chatfield, Steven N., Malcolm, Karen and Dougan, Gordon (1994). Chimeric hepatitis B core antigen particles containing B- and Th-epitopes of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein induce specific antibody and T-helper responses in immunised mice. Virology, 200 (2), 547-557. doi: 10.1006/viro.1994.1217
2025
Journal Article
Skin patch delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike DNA vaccine produces broad neutralising antibody responses
McMillan, Christopher L.D., Corner, Andrea V., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Choo, Jovin J.Y., Pittayakhajonwut, Daraporn, Poredi, Indrajeet, Parry, Rhys H., Bindra, Guneet K., Bruce, Kimberley, Khromykh, Alexander A., Fernando, Germain J.P., Dapremont, Laurent, Young, Paul R. and Muller, David A. (2025). Skin patch delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike DNA vaccine produces broad neutralising antibody responses. Heliyon, 11 (4) e42533, e42533. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42533
2024
Journal Article
Enhancement of cellular immunity following needle-free vaccination of mice with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
McMillan, Christopher L. D., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Choo, Jovin J. Y., Amarilla, Alberto A., Modhiran, Naphak, Fernando, Germain J. P., Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R. and Muller, David A. (2024). Enhancement of cellular immunity following needle-free vaccination of mice with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Journal of General Virology, 105 (1) 001947, 1-6. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001947
2022
Journal Article
An ultrahigh-density microneedle array for skin vaccination: inducing epidermal cell death by increasing microneedle density enhances total IgG and IgG1 immune responses
Coffey, Jacob W., van der Burg, Nicole M. D., Rananakomol, Thippayawan, Ng, Hwee-Ing, Fernando, Germain J. P. and Kendall, Mark A. F. (2022). An ultrahigh-density microneedle array for skin vaccination: inducing epidermal cell death by increasing microneedle density enhances total IgG and IgG1 immune responses. Advanced NanoBiomed Research, 2 (8) 2100151, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/anbr.202100151
2022
Journal Article
Dermal delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine induces immunogenicity against variants of concern
McMillan, Christopher L. D., Azuar, Armira, Choo, Jovin J. Y., Modhiran, Naphak, Amarilla, Alberto A., Isaacs, Ariel, Honeyman, Kate E., Cheung, Stacey T. M., Liang, Benjamin, Wurm, Maria J., Pino, Paco, Kint, Joeri, Fernando, Germain J. P., Landsberg, Michael J., Khromykh, Alexander A., Hobson-Peters, Jody, Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R. and Muller, David A. (2022). Dermal delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine induces immunogenicity against variants of concern. Vaccines, 10 (4) 578, 578. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10040578
2021
Journal Article
Developing a stabilizing formulation of a live chimeric dengue virus vaccine dry coated on a high-density microarray patch
Choo, Jovin J. Y., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Fernando, Germain J. P., Hall, Roy A., Young, Paul R., Hobson-Peters, Jody and Muller, David A. (2021). Developing a stabilizing formulation of a live chimeric dengue virus vaccine dry coated on a high-density microarray patch. Vaccines, 9 (11) 1301, 1301. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9111301
2021
Journal Article
Complete protection by a single-dose skin patch–delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine
McMillan, Christopher L. D., Choo, Jovin J. Y., Idris, Adi, Supramaniam, Aroon, Modhiran, Naphak, Amarilla, Alberto A., Isaacs, Ariel, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Liang, Benjamin, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Azuar, Armira, Acharya, Dhruba, Kelly, Gabrielle, Fernando, Germain J. P., Landsberg, Michael J., Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul R., McMillan, Nigel A. J. and Muller, David A. (2021). Complete protection by a single-dose skin patch–delivered SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine. Science Advances, 7 (44) eabj8065, eabj8065. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abj8065
2021
Journal Article
Cellular responses at the application site of a high-density microarray patch delivering an influenza vaccine in a randomized, controlled phase I clinical trial
Depelsenaire, Alexandra C. I., Witham, Katey, Veitch, Margaret, Wells, James W., Anderson, Christopher D., Lickliter, Jason D., Rockman, Steve, Bodle, Jesse, Treasure, Peter, Hickling, Julian, Fernando, Germain J. P. and Forster, Angus H. (2021). Cellular responses at the application site of a high-density microarray patch delivering an influenza vaccine in a randomized, controlled phase I clinical trial. PLoS One, 16 (7) e0255282, e0255282. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255282
2021
Journal Article
A chimeric dengue virus vaccine candidate delivered by high density microarray patches protects against infection in mice
Choo, Jovin J. Y., Vet, Laura J., McMillan, Christopher L. D., Harrison, Jessica J., Scott, Connor A. P., Depelsenaire, Alexandra C. I., Fernando, Germain J. P., Watterson, Daniel, Hall, Roy A., Young, Paul R., Hobson-Peters, Jody and Muller, David A. (2021). A chimeric dengue virus vaccine candidate delivered by high density microarray patches protects against infection in mice. npj Vaccines, 6 (1) 66, 66. doi: 10.1038/s41541-021-00328-1
2020
Journal Article
Safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of influenza vaccination with a high-density microarray patch: results from a randomized, controlled phase I clinical trial
Forster, Angus H, Witham, Katey, Depelsenaire, Alexandra C.I., Veitch, Margaret, Wells, James W., Wheatley, Adam, Pryor, Melinda, Lickliter, Jason, Francis, Barbara, Rockman, Steve, Bodle, Jesse, Treasure, Peter, Hickling, Julian and Fernando, Germain J.P. (2020). Safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of influenza vaccination with a high-density microarray patch: results from a randomized, controlled phase I clinical trial. PLoS Medicine, 17 (3) e1003024, e1003024. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003024
2019
Journal Article
Efficient delivery of dengue virus subunit vaccines to the skin by microprojection arrays
Muller, David A., Depelsenaire, Alexandra C. I., Shannon, Ashleigh E., Watterson, Daniel, Corrie, Simon R., Owens, Nick S., Agyei-Yeboah, Christiana, Cheung, Stacey T. M., Zhang, Jin, Fernando, Germain J. P., Kendall, Mark A. F. and Young, Paul R. (2019). Efficient delivery of dengue virus subunit vaccines to the skin by microprojection arrays. Vaccines, 7 (4) 189, 189. doi: 10.3390/vaccines7040189
2019
Journal Article
Microprojection arrays applied to skin generate mechanical stress, induce an inflammatory transcriptome and cell death, and improve vaccine-induced immune responses
Ng, Hwee-Ing, Tuong, Zewen K., Fernando, Germain J. P., Depelsenaire, Alexandra C. I., Meliga, Stefano C., Frazer, Ian H. and Kendall, Mark A. F. (2019). Microprojection arrays applied to skin generate mechanical stress, induce an inflammatory transcriptome and cell death, and improve vaccine-induced immune responses. npj Vaccines, 4 (1) 41, 41. doi: 10.1038/s41541-019-0134-4
2018
Journal Article
Safety, tolerability, acceptability and immunogenicity of an influenza vaccine delivered to human skin by a novel high-density microprojection array patch (Nanopatch™)
Fernando, Germain J. P., Hickling, Julian, Jayashi Flores, Cesar M., Griffin, Paul, Anderson, Christopher D., Skinner, S. Rachel, Davies, Cristyn, Witham, Katey, Pryor, Melinda, Bodle, Jesse, Rockman, Steve, Frazer, Ian H. and Forster, Angus H. (2018). Safety, tolerability, acceptability and immunogenicity of an influenza vaccine delivered to human skin by a novel high-density microprojection array patch (Nanopatch™). Vaccine, 36 (26), 3779-3788. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.05.053
2017
Journal Article
High-density microprojection array delivery to rat skin of low doses of trivalent inactivated poliovirus vaccine elicits potent neutralising antibody responses
Muller, David A., Fernando, Germain J. P., Owens, Nick S., Agyei-Yeboah, Christiana, Wei, Jonathan C. J., Depelsenaire, Alexandra C. I., Forster, Angus, Fahey, Paul, Weldon, William C., Oberste, M. Steven, Young, Paul R. and Kendall, Mark A. F. (2017). High-density microprojection array delivery to rat skin of low doses of trivalent inactivated poliovirus vaccine elicits potent neutralising antibody responses. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 12644, 12644. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13011-0
2016
Journal Article
Influenza nucleoprotein DNA vaccination by a skin targeted, dry coated, densely packed microprojection array (Nanopatch) induces potent antibody and CD8+ T cell responses
Fernando, Germain J. P., Zhang, Jin, Ng, Hwee-Ing, Haigh, Oscar L., Yukiko, Sally R. and Kendall, Mark A. F. (2016). Influenza nucleoprotein DNA vaccination by a skin targeted, dry coated, densely packed microprojection array (Nanopatch) induces potent antibody and CD8+ T cell responses. Journal of Controlled Release, 237, 35-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.06.045
2010
Conference Publication
Fast evaporation aided coating of densely packed and short microprojection patches for enhanced vaccine delivery to the skin
Chen, X., Fernando, G. J. P., Corbett, H., Prow, T. W., Crichton, M. L. and Kendall, M. A. F. (2010). Fast evaporation aided coating of densely packed and short microprojection patches for enhanced vaccine delivery to the skin. 3rd International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICONN) 2010, Sydney NSW Australia, 22-26 February 2010. Piscatawa, NJ United States: I E E E. doi: 10.1109/ICONN.2010.6045237
2009
Conference Publication
A novel Nanopatch that directly delivers influenza vaccine painlessly to antigen presenting cells in the skin and affords high dose reduction
Fernando, Germain J. P., Chen, XianFeng, Prow, Tarl, Crichton, Michael, Frazer, Ian H., Brown, Lorena E. and Kendall, Mark A. F. (2009). A novel Nanopatch that directly delivers influenza vaccine painlessly to antigen presenting cells in the skin and affords high dose reduction. Third International Conference on Modern Vaccines Adjuvants & Delivery Systems, Vienna, Austria, 28-30 October 2009.
2009
Conference Publication
Using velocity of application for targeted delivery of vaccines into skin using micronanoprojections
Crichton, M., Ansaldo, A., Chen, X., Prow, T., Tan, C., Fernando, G. and Kendall, M. A. F. (2009). Using velocity of application for targeted delivery of vaccines into skin using micronanoprojections. 36th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Controlled Release Society, Copenhagen, Denmark, 18-22 July 2009.
2008
Conference Publication
Novel coating of Micro-nanoprojection patches for targeted vaccine delivery to skin
Xianfeng Chen, Tarl Prow, Michael Crichton, Fernando, Germain J. and Kendall, Mark A. (2008). Novel coating of Micro-nanoprojection patches for targeted vaccine delivery to skin. 2008 International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Melbourne , Australia, February 25-29, 2008. New York , U.S.A.: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ICONN.2008.4639257
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Germain Fernando is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Development of needle-free pain-free skin patch vaccines
1). Delivering of vaccines using a novel skin patch that is needle-free and pain-free which induces potent immune responses. Study of mechanisms.
2). Developing Universal Influenza Vaccines that protect people from new strains of virus.
3). Translating the skin patch vaccine delivery system from animal models to human clinical testing.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Systems Vaccinology studies on the biomolecular basis of physical adjuvantation in skin when vaccinated with a high density microprojection array
Associate Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Dissolving Nanopatches for Targeted Vaccine Delivery to the Skin
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Germain Fernando directly for media enquiries about:
- Anti-cancer Vaccines
- Antibody
- Biochemistry
- Drug Delivery
- Immunisation
- Immunology
- Influenza vaccines
- Lipid Chemistry
- Lipoproteins
- Medical Devices
- Nanopatch
- Needle-free vaccination
- Papillomavirus Vaccines
- Protein Chemistry
- Skin - vaccinations
- Systems Vaccinology
- T-Cells
- Vaccination
- Vaccine Adjuvants
- Vaccine delivery
- Vaccines
- Vaccines and genes
- Viral Vaccines
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