The Marshall Centre at UWA

🍯 A sweet moment in the spotlight — Assoc. Professor Kate Hammer was recently interviewed by ABC about Australian honey and its scientific and wider community interest.

The conversation explored honey as a topic of ongoing curiosity across science and health, touching on why it continues to attract attention from both researchers and the public.

The interview has not yet been released, but it was a great opportunity to contribute to a broader public discussion and share perspectives in an accessible way.

We look forward to the feature being published soon.

Thank you ABC for the opportunity!

❄️ While the Perth weather is getting cooler, things have certainly been warming up at the Marshall Centre, with a busy calendar of visitors, partnerships and collaborative discussions over recent weeks!

Most recently, the Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training was pleased to welcome a delegation from Xiamen University (XMU), China, led by Professor Zhang Rong, Council Chair of XMU and Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The delegation was welcomed by Professor Charlene Kahler, Director of the Marshall Centre, and Emeritus Professor Barry Marshall, Patron of the Marshall Centre, who shared insights into the Centre's research, impact and vision for the future.
The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the Marshall Centre’s strengths in infectious diseases and biomedical sciences, while exploring future opportunities for research collaboration, academic exchange and training.

In true Barry Marshall fashion, the visit also included a light-hearted demonstration of a calculator he had created himself, much to the amusement of the delegation and a reminder that curiosity and creativity are at the heart of scientific discovery.

We thank Professor Zhang and the Xiamen University delegation for visiting the Marshall Centre and look forward to strengthening this growing partnership.

We were pleased to welcome a delegation from Zhejiang Province, China, led by Professor Zhang Yaowu, Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Cooperation Centre, and his Directors team visit to the Marshall Centre last week.

The delegation was accompanied by Ms Liu Guannan, Consul of the People's Republic of China in Perth, together with Mr Steven Kolikow and Ms Jeehyun Ahn from Invest and Trade Western Australia. They were welcomed by Professor Charlene Kahler, Director of the Marshall Centre, together with Dr Alfred Chin Yen Tay, Professor Minghao Zheng, Ricky Chen and Mr Kan YU.

As one of China's leading provinces in science, technology and innovation, Zhejiang has a strong focus on international research collaboration and the translation of research into real-world outcomes. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the Marshall Centre's research strengths across infectious diseases, microbiology, health security and translational research, while exploring areas of mutual interest and future collaboration.

Thank you to Professor Zhang and the delegation for visiting the Marshall Centre. We look forward to continuing these conversations and exploring future opportunities to work together.

🔬 A Day in the Lab for Future Scientists

The Marshall Centre recently welcomed 24 Malaysian secondary school students through the AUG Study Tour Program 2026 for a hands-on introduction to biomedical research.

Students were welcomed by Ms Liz Fu, Dr Alfred Chin Yen Tay, Chief Researcher in Professor Barry Marshall’s Helicobacter pylori laboratory, and Dr Erwin A. Paz, who shared their passion for science and research with the group.
Through a range of practical laboratory activities, students experienced some of the fundamental techniques used by researchers every day, including pipetting technique and observing how bacterial growth can influence pH changes in culture media. These sessions offered a glimpse into the scientific methods that underpin discoveries in microbiology and infectious diseases research.
For many students, this was their first experience in a research laboratory. Beyond the hands-on activities, the visit provided an opportunity to explore potential pathways in science, health and research, while gaining insight into what life as a scientist or researcher looks like. We hope the experience sparked curiosity and encouraged future study and careers in STEM.

A big thank you to our researchers and staff who helped make the visit both educational and enjoyable.

Great discussions at the Marshall Centre this week with Hon. Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Preventative Health, a strong advocate for preventative care and immunisation in Western Australia.

Minister Winton was welcomed by Professor Charlene Kahler, Head of School and Director of the Marshall Centre, Simon Ward, Senior Advisor of Government Relation and Kate McKenzie Manager of Research Partnerships, for discussions on infectious diseases research, training and public health initiatives aligned with the State Government’s preventative health priorities.

The visit highlighted the breadth of research across the Marshall Centre, including diagnostic development for gut infections, therapeutics to prevent respiratory infections, and pandemic preparedness. The important role of prevention-focused strategies such as immunisation and early intervention in improving long-term health outcomes was discussed.

We also appreciated the opportunity to continue discussions around future preventative health initiatives for sexually transmitted infections
Thank you to Minister Winton and Ms Nicola Bird for taking the time to visit and engage with our researchers and clinicians.

May has been filled with meaningful conversations, new connections and inspiring visits at the Marshall Centre, reflecting the growing momentum of our research, partnerships and global engagement.

We were delighted to welcome Ms Elizabeth Perron, Executive Chair of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, together with Directors Mr Ross Ledger, Ms Fiona Payne and Mr Ross Robertson, to the Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training. The visit provided an opportunity to share first-hand the impact of the Foundation’s longstanding support for infectious diseases research, training and research infrastructure, and to thank the Foundation for its enduring partnership with the Marshall Centre.

During their visit, the Directors met Head of School and Director of the Marshall Centre, Professor Charlene Kahler; Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall; Deputy Director Professor Mark Nicol; BrightSpark Early Career Research Fellow Dr. Ritika Kar Bahal, Ms Liz Fu and Ms Venessa Csd.

The visit highlighted the transformative impact of the Foundation’s investment in research capability and the new structure and scope of the Marshall Centre. This includes a $1.8 million grant supporting Professor Mark Nicol’s respiratory live biotherapy research and a recently announced $2.2 million grant to Professor Charlene Kahler to establish PC3 containment capability at UWA. Once completed, the facility will strengthen Western Australia’s capacity to respond to emerging infectious disease threats, support pandemic preparedness, and enable researchers to undertake critical work with high-risk pathogens closer to home.

The Directors also visited the PC2 Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at the Marshall Centre and met Foundation-supported students, Mr Kan YU and Ms Anastasia Basuki, and heard how their work is advancing child health, infectious diseases and microbiology research. From understanding the role of the respiratory microbiome in childhood health to investigating host–microbe interactions and emerging infectious disease challenges, these projects are helping to generate knowledge that can improve health outcomes both locally and globally.

We are sincerely grateful to the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation for its continued commitment to advancing health and medical research, supporting the next generation of researchers, and helping build a stronger future for infectious disease research in Western Australia.

What a wonderful evening at the Perth Biodesign Gala Dinner on Monday 18 May.

A sincere thank you to UWA Development and Alumni Relations, Ms Kamyra Laurenson, and Perth Biodesign Chair Professor Kevin Pfleger for the generous invitation and wonderful hospitality throughout the evening.

It was incredibly inspiring to spend time with such passionate innovators, clinicians, researchers and industry leaders, all united by a shared goal of improving healthcare and driving medical innovation forward. There was a real sense of optimism in the room about what collaboration between research, industry, and philanthropy can achieve.

We were especially grateful to Jill Dawson OAM (President, Perth Rotary), John Garland (Garland International), and fellow Perth Rotary members for joining us and taking the time to learn more about the Marshall Centre’s vision to advance infectious diseases work that improves lives locally and globally.

We are also very proud of our Marshall Centre team, Professor Charlene Kahler (Director, Marshall Centre), Dr Mitali Sarkar-Tyson, Dr Matthew Sullivan, Associate Professor Allison Imrie, Dr Aleksandra Debowski Dr. Ritika Kar Bahal and Ms Liz Fu, for sharing their work and engaging in thoughtful discussions with our Perth Rotary partners.

Nights like this are a powerful reminder that meaningful change happens when good people come together around a shared purpose.

Tuesday was an exciting day filled with dynamic conversations and shared enthusiasm as we welcomed Professor Tran Trung Dung, CEO of Vinmec Health Care System, and colleagues from VinMec to the Marshall Centre, together with Professor Barry Marshall, Patron of the Marshall Centre.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a new collaboration. This partnership brings together VinMec’s clinical leadership and healthcare network with the Marshall Centre’s expertise in infectious diseases, diagnostics and translational research across key areas including gut health, respiratory health, reproductive health and health security.

The partnership signing was formalised by Professor Charlene Kahler and Dr Vu Thi My Hanh, Director of Clinical Training and Strategic Partnerships.
The flagship initiative of this collaboration will be the Vietnam Gastric Health ambition, focused on Helicobacter pylori infection and gastrointestinal health. This represents a bold commitment to eradicate and reducing gastric cancer in Vietnam.

Our Deputy Director Professor Mark Nicol, Dr Alfred Chin Yen Tay, Ms Liz Fu, Dr. Khun Peng An, and Ms Hannah Vu from UWA Global Engagement were also part of the visit and welcomed the delegation.
We would also like to thank Dr Samuel Lundin, Luke Marshall, Dr Priyanthi Kumarasinghe, Dr Richard Allcock and Dr Chisha Sikazwe, PhD for hosting us and the VinMec delegation, and for sharing valuable insights into Biotome Pty Ltd and the important work being carried out at PathWest.

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With Associate Professor Allison Imrie leading the way, UWA is now a member of PREZODE (PREventing ZOonotic Disease Emergence), an international initiative dedicated to tackling global challenges associated with the prevention, surveillance, early detection, and rapid response to zoonotic pandemic risks.

This international initiative is based on the One Health approach, which encompasses human, animal and environmental health to detect diseases of animal origin.

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This partnership reflects UWA’s commitment to global health, biosecurity, and interdisciplinary solutions that protect communities, ecosystems, and economies. As part of PREZODE’s global network The University of Western Australia will contribute its research expertise and collaborative capacity to strengthen proactive approaches that reduce the likelihood of future zoonotic spill over events, within The Marshall Centre at UWA Health Security theme lead by Associate Professor Allison Imrie and Clinical Professor David Smith. Dr Imrie also serves as UWA’s PREZODE Focal Point.

We are looking forward to working with our partners and collaborators on this exciting initiative.

Advancing infectious disease and child health research through strong science and philanthropic partnership between the Marshall Centre and Stan Perron foundation

Congratulations to Professor Charlene Kahler, Dr Lucy Furfaro and Mr Kan YU on this well-deserved recognition of their contributions to advancing research.

With a $2.2 million grant from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, our Director Professor Kahler is leading the upgrade of the UWA’s laboratories to establish PC3 containment capability, strengthening Western Australia’s capacity for infectious disease research and pandemic preparedness. The facility upgrade is expected to commence in the second half of 2026, with completion anticipated in 2027.

We also celebrate the 2025 Health Research Grant awarded to Dr Lucy Furfaro (UWA) for her bacteriophage research targeting Group B Streptococcal infections, and the Stan Perron Fellowship 2025 awarded to Marshall Centre PhD candidate Mr Kan YU for his work on health-associated airway commensal bacteria.

Congratulations again to Professor Kahler, Dr Lucy Furfaro and Mr Kan Yu. These achievements highlight the Marshall Centre’s growing research capability and the critical role of philanthropic support in enabling impactful medical research. We also thank our philanthropic partners whose support continues to make this work possible.

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