IMPACT REPORT 2021

Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy image of a human nasal epithelium organoid (Image credit: Dr Bang Tran and Professor Elizabeth Vincan, Doherty Institute)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2021, we entered the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no timeline for COVID-19, no end date yet.

But we knew this: our scientists remained resolute in their search for answers to better understand this infectious disease and learn the lessons so that we can be better prepared for the next one.

A joint venture between the University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) was purpose-built to bring together experts in infectious diseases and immunology in order to find solutions to prevent, treat and cure infectious diseases.

Our 2021 Impact Report is replete with stories of our research, clinical, public health and teaching successes identified through our themes and cross-cutting disciplines. It includes personal narratives by some of our staff and is punctuated by the many achievements of the Institute in 2021.

The Doherty Institute continues to be at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic response, by leading in mathematical modelling and contributing to understanding transmission through genomic sequencing, as well as working on diagnostics, vaccines and novel antiviral treatments.

Throughout the year, we sustained infection and immunity work beyond COVID-19, even as our staff and students continued to work and learn from home over a prolonged period under public health orders.

To navigate this report, simply scroll downwards or use the menu at the top of the screen to go directly to key sections. Throughout the report, which this year includes a financial summary, you can click through to linked stories to learn more about the breadth and depth of work that occurred during the year across our key research themes and cross-cutting disciplines.

Message from the Director

If I were to give the story of 2021 a title, it would be ‘The Road Out of Lockdown and Toward a Very Bright Future’.

We now live relatively normal lives, and I am immensely proud of what the Doherty Institute achieved over that time.

Our role in the response to COVID evolved over 2021. Most prominent was our leadership in mathematical modelling, however, we continued to make major contributions to Australia’s COVID response, ranging from understanding the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, using genomics to understand transmission networks, to developing vaccines, and exploration of novel antiviral treatments.

Message from the Patron

At least for Australia, our Institute is structured in a way that has proven to be uniquely 'fit for purpose' during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the one hand, we house the 'immediate response' teams of infectious disease physicians (Victorian Infectious Disease Service, VIDS), and the sophisticated laboratory-based diagnosticians of the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory (VIRDRL) and the Microbiology Diagnostic Unit (MDU). In the same building are the established academic researchers, emerging investigators and graduate and undergraduate students of two leading university departments - the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Department of Infectious Diseases. One result has been, particularly in the human immunology area, outstanding research publications that benefit from synergies between these different areas of expertise.