A/Prof Katharine Irvine

Associate Professor Katharine Irvine is a Group Leader within the Chronic and Integrated Care Program. A/Prof Irvine heads the Innate Immunity and Inflammation Group which is focused on dissecting the roles of macrophages in homeostasis and inflammation and tissue regeneration, particularly associated with chronic liver disease. Her research aims to exploit knowledge of macrophage biology to understand the development of chronic inflammatory disease, and to identify macrophage-targeted therapies to treat disease or promote tissue regeneration.
 
A/Prof Irvine has authored over 100 scientific publications, with her research largely focused on diverse aspects of multi-functional immune cells called macrophages in health and disease. She has a strong focus on clinical and translational research and hopes to deliver research outcomes that will benefit patients and change healthcare practice. She is a member of the Liver Faculty Executive Committee of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia.

“I am fascinated by the cells of the innate immune system that create inflammation in response to a huge variety of ‘danger’ signals in the body, which eradicate the danger and orchestrate healing. Innate immune cells are present in every organ in the body where they perform critical, sometimes organ-specific functions, during development and in health and disease – which provides a never-ending supply of interesting research projects. I am driven to understand how these amazing cells work, their roles in health and disease, and how they could be manipulated to provide better treatments for patients”.