Professor Marc Pellegrini MB BS BSc FRACP PhD FAHMS is an infectious diseases physician, host-pathogen molecular biologist, and Executive Director at the Centenary Institute. An internationally renowned research scientist, Professor Pellegrini has over 20 years of experience working on chronic infections that include HIV, hepatitis B and tuberculosis.
Bridging the gap between basic science and translation into the clinic, Professor Pellegrini’s research is focused on the development of novel therapeutics and interventions for the management of infectious diseases that contribute significantly to global morbidity and mortality.
An expert on host-pathogen interactions, Professor Pellegrini is particularly interested in the targeting of host cell signalling pathways to promote clearance of infected cells to eradicate chronic infectious diseases. His work has resulted in 16 clinical trials, including that of interleukin-7 immunotherapy, which was approved for the treatment of a previously fatal disease (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) caused by the JC virus. Professor Pellegrini and his team have been awarded a number of prizes including the Burnet Prize, the Bupa Health Researcher Award, the Frank Fenner Award, an NHMRC Excellence Award and two Eureka Prizes. He was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2018.
