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Emeritus Professor Paul Young

Fellow

  • Bio/Profile
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  • My research interests have encompassed the broad field of flavivirus research with a major focus on the dengue viruses and with contributions to the field over nearly 40 years. I have had more than 45 years of experience investigating the molecular biology, structure, function, biochemistry and immunology of viruses and their encoded proteins. These studies have been continually supported by grant funding from both national and international granting agencies. My group has contributed significantly in the areas of diagnostics, vaccine and antiviral development as well as towards a greater understanding of the basis of severe viral disease.
    Much of my laboratory’s focus has been on translational outcomes, exemplified by the:
    - Development of a dengue diagnostic assay that is now recognized as the global gold standard for early dengue detection,
    - Establishment of recombinant viral protease assays for the flaviviruses that have formed the basis of antiviral drug development,
    - Discovery of the flavivirus NS1 as a viral toxin and hence target for antiviral and therapeutics development,
    - The application of micro-array patches as a vaccine delivery platform to the skin, and
    - Design and development of a platform vaccine technology that my team applied in 2020, with CEPI support, in the development and clinical trial of a protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine. Re-design of that vaccine has led to it being taken back into new clinical trials, under the guidance of the spin-out company Vicebio.
    Other achievements
    Australian Society for Microbiology “David White Excellence in Teaching Award” for 2008
    President of the Australian Society for Microbiology
    President of the Asia Pacific Society for Medical Virology
    Immediate-Past President Australasian Virology Society
    Research Excellence Award in 2009 from the Asia Pacific Society for Medical Virology
    NH&MRC Panel member 2006 and 2008
    Consultant to WHO on dengue diagnostics
    Member of UQ Institutional Biosafety Committees
    Member of the Federal Government O-GTR Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee
    The University of Queensland
    Emeritus Professor, Jan 2025 - Present
    Professor, Research Development
    Office of the deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Innovation, May 2022 – Dec 2024
    Affiliate Professor, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
    Professor and Head of School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Mar 2014 - Jan 2025
    Professor 2009
    Associate Professor, 2006 – 2008.
    Senior Lecturer, 1991 - 2006
    Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre, Senior Research Fellow.  1989 – 2000.
    Research Assistant. 1977 – 1978.
    London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine,
    Lecturer. 1986 – 1989.
    Research Fellow, 1984 - 1986
    Research Assistant and PT PhD student, 1978 – 1984.
    QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,
    Research Assistant. 1976 - 1977
    Honours student, Feb 1976 - Nov 1976