Doherty Institute Director Professor Sharon Lewin AO reappointed for another term

Professor Sharon Lewin AO
Professor Sharon Lewin AO, Director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

The Doherty Council has today confirmed Professor Sharon Lewin AO has been reappointed
Director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) for
another term.

Professor Lewin is the inaugural Director of the Doherty Institute, a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, with a vision to improve health globally through discovery research and the prevention, treatment and cure of infectious diseases.

Professor Lewin is an internationally renowned infectious diseases physician and basic scientist, specialising in all aspects of HIV disease and pathogenesis. She is also a Melbourne Laureate Professor of Medicine at The University of Melbourne and the immediate Past President of the International AIDS Society (IAS) (2022 – 2024).

Chair of the Doherty Council, Martyn Myer AO, said Professor Lewin had been at the helm of the Doherty Institute since its inception in 2014.

“Under her leadership, the Doherty Institute has achieved remarkable success over the last decade spanning research, public health and education, which was exemplified by the Institute’s response to COVID-19,” Mr Myer said.

Chief Executive of the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Doherty Council member, Professor Shelley Dolan, said she was delighted that Professor Lewin had been reappointed.

“Professor Lewin is a fantastic leader and her ability to bring together multidisciplinary teams, foster strong community networks and act as a powerful advocate for public health came to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Institute played a vital role in the national response,” Professor Dolan said.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne and Doherty Council member, Professor Jane Gunn AO, said Professor Lewin’s leadership has had far reaching impact.

“By championing knowledge sharing and collaboration, both within our Melbourne Biomedical Precinct and globally, Sharon and her team at the Doherty Institute have accelerated research translation to combat infectious diseases; from understanding the intricacies of how the immune system works through to large scale health systems evaluation,” Professor Gunn said.

Professor Lewin said collaboration is the cornerstone of the Doherty Institute, as she thanked her team, partners and supporters.

“Reflecting on the past 10 years since the Doherty Institute was established, I am tremendously proud of what we have achieved,” Professor Lewin said.

“The impact of all of our staff across research, public health and education has been tremendous and while it is an ever-changing and at times challenging landscape, it is a true privilege to lead the Doherty Institute.”

Professor Lewin was also instrumental in the establishment of the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics at the Doherty Institute in 2022, where she also serves as inaugural Director. The Centre was made possible by a philanthropic gift of $250 million from Canadian philanthropist Geoff Cumming and $75 million from the Victorian Government with a mission to advance the science behind therapeutic development for pathogens of pandemic potential.

Professor Lewin also played an integral role in establishing the Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID), an initiative of the University of Melbourne, the Doherty Institute and the Burnet Institute (Foundation Partners) and the Victorian Government (Major Supporting Partner). Together, these leading organisations will collaborate to enhance Australia’s capability in infectious disease research, education, and public health to drive greater speed, innovation, equity and sovereign capability in our response to emerging infectious diseases, global health challenges and pandemics.

The Doherty Institute's internationally renowned research, public health and education efforts will be driven by Professor Lewin for another term until 2029.

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