GRAS LAB 2024
Anurag Adhikari, Janesha Maddumage, Lawton Murdolo, Dhilshan Jayasinghe, Dimitra Chatzileontiadou, Samuel Liwei Leong, Stephanie Gras, You Min Ahn, Georgia Dow, Emma Grant, Jamie Tuiebo
GRAS LAB 2023
Dhilshan Jayasinghe, Hannah Sloane, Samuel Liwei Leong, Lawton Murdolo, Stephanie Gras, Anurag Adhikari, Emma Grant, Jamie Tuiebo, Georgia Dow, Janesha Maddumage, Cynthia Wanjiku Muigai
GRAS LAB 2022
Christopher Szeto, Emma Grant, Samuel Liwei Leong, Lawton Murdolo, Stephanie Gras, Dhilshan Jayasinghe, Christian Lobos, Dimitra Chatzileontiadou, Andrea Nguyen, You Min Ahn, Ha Pham
GRAS LAB 2021
Christopher Szeto, Dhilshan Jayasinghe, Dimitra Chatzileontiadou, Stephanie Gras, Brianna Hans, Emma Grant, Andrea Nguyen
GRAS LAB 2020 – COVID restriction so could not take group picture
GRAS LAB 2019
Christian Lobos, Hayden Robson, Shivangi, Ganatra, Hannah Sloane, Dimitra Chatzileontiadou, Andrea Nguyen, Stephanie Gras, Hanim Halim, Emma Grant, Christopher Szeto, Dhilshan Jayasinghe
Prof. Stephanie Gras (Lab Head, NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, LIMS Deputy Director)
Professor Stephanie Gras is a Laboratory Head and NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at La Trobe University within the Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry and the Deputy Director of La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS). She is leading a laboratory of 16 members (staff and students) working on the T cell response towards infections with a primary focus on HIV and influenza. After a PhD in France focused on Structural Biology and T cells, she moved to Australia in 2007 to join Prof. Rossjohn lab at Monash University. A decade later she has established her research group focused on the understanding of the molecular mechanism and key event of an effective immune response.
She has successfully secured funding from the ARC, NHMRC, MRFF to support her lab, as well as been awarded the Dean’s award for Early Career researcher, the Georgina Sweet Award for Women in Quantitative Biomedical Science, and the Sandy Mathieson medal. Stephanie has also been extremely successful at presenting her work at both national and international meeting, as well as publishing her research in high profile journals such as Science, Nature, Nature Immunology, Immunity and Science Immunology (see publications). Stephanie has a passion for science and love to communicate with the scientific community as well as the public about her exciting findings.
Outside the lab, Steph enjoy travelling, catching up with friend, and playing call of duty!
Twitter @GrasLab
Bluesky @GrasLab
Linkedin Stephanie Gras
Dr. Emma Grant (Research Fellow)
Dr Emma Grant is an ARC DECRA Fellow (former NHMRC Early Career Fellow) working at at La Trobe University within the Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry and LIMS, Victoria, Australia. Dr Grant completed her PhD studies, “Understanding immune responses to Influenza viruses” in 2015 at Melbourne University under the supervision of Prof. Katherine Kedzierska. Following her PhD, she was awarded an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship, undertaking her first 2 years at Cardiff University in Wales, UK, under the mentorship or Prof. David Price. She has since returned to work at Monash University, firstly within the Rossjohn Laboratory under Prof. Jamie Rossjohn, and more recently in the newly established Gras laboratory under the mentorship of then A/Prof. Stephanie Gras. Her interests remain within anti-viral immunity and her research focuses on understanding key correlates of immune protection against different viral infections.
Outside the lab, Emma enjoy art & craft, boardgame, and keep busy with her little one.
Twitter @Emma_J_Grant
Dr. Dimitra Chatzileontiadou (Research Fellow)
Dimitra is a postdoctoral research fellow working working at at La Trobe University within the Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry and LIMS, Victoria, Australia. She graduated with a Bachelor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace in Greece, and moved to the University of Thessaly in Greece to do her Master of Science on Molecular Biology and Genetics applications – diagnostic markers, in the Structural and Functional Biochemistry laboratory, at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology under the supervision of A/Prof. Nikolaos Balatsos. Following her Master’s degree she completed her doctoral studies in the same laboratory performing biochemical studies on human Angiogenin under the supervision of Prof. Demetrios Leonidas. She was then awarded an IKY Fellowship for excellence of postgraduate studies in Greece – SIEMENS program 2017, as a research fellow in the same laboratory. Dimitra then moved to Australia to work at Monash University, firstly within the Rossjohn Laboratory under Prof. Jamie Rossjohn, and more recently in the newly established Gras laboratory under the mentorship of A/Prof. Stephanie Gras.
Dimitra is currently working on the field of anti-viral immunity using multisdisciplinary approaches, including biochemistry, molecular biology, crystallography and cellular/functional assays, in order to understand the immune system actions when facing with viral infections.
Outside the lab, Dimitra is an amazing actress and is involved in multiple play during the year. Next objective becoming director!
Twitter @DimitraChatzil1
Dr. Anurag Adhikari
Anurag is an infectious disease immunologist, who studies the functional aspect of human adaptive immunity against infections. Anurag completed his undergraduate in biotechnology from Purbanchal University, Nepal and his PhD in pathology from the University of New South Wales, Australia. During his PhD, Anurag studied the polyclonal antibody effector functions including the antibody-mediated neutralisation and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis in RNA virus infections like the Hepatitis C virus and SARS-CoV-2. In addition to viral infections, he has worked to understand bacterial infection (Orientia tsutsugamushi that causes scrub typhus disease) associated humoral and innate immune response in Nepalese patients.
Besides the host immune response against different pathogen, Anurag has also worked to characterise the genomic architect of neglected tropical disease-causing pathogens including the Dengue and Orientia tsutsugamushi. Anurag’s dual work on host response and pathogen characterisation has yielded in numerous scholarly research articles and international awards/fellowships. Based on his translational pathogen characterization research, Anurag has developed new nucleic acid amplification-based protocols that are currently in use to clinically diagnose the dengue infection, scrub typhus disease, and pulmonary tuberculosis in Nepal.
In addition to the humoral immune response and pathogen characterisation, he has a special interest in pathogen-specific T-cell induction, proliferation, and maintenance after infection and immunisation.
Outside the lab, Anurag loves to hike, run and cycle long distances
Twitter @anura_Adhikari
Dr. Janesha Maddumage
Janesha completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, majoring in molecular biology and biochemistry. After graduating, she worked as a temporary teaching assistant in the Department of Zoology at the University of Colombo for a year. Janesha then moved to Australia to pursue a Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics degree at La Trobe University, which she passed with first-class honors. Her master’s thesis focused on cloning, expression, and purification of recombinant human SDHAF4 for antibody production and studying SDHA assembly complexes, under the supervision of Dr. Kaye Truscott and Dr. David Dougan. Upon completing her master’s degree, Janesha began her PhD with Prof. Marc Kvansakul, co-supervised by Prof. Patrick Humbert, at La Trobe University, investigating cell polarity regulation in an ancient organism called Trichoplax. After successfully completing her PhD, she joined our lab as a research officer in 2023.
Outside of the lab, Janesha likes to read and play with my two cats Darcy and Lizzy.
Twitter @JaneDazzy
Dhilshan Jayasinghe (Research assistant)
Dhilshan Jayasinghe is a Senior Research Assistant working at at La Trobe University within the Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry and LIMS, Victoria, Australia. Dhilshan completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University in 2014. He then completed an Honours degree at the Hudson Institute, investigating a cancer induced mouse model “MYC overexpression drives distinct subsets of Small Cell Lung Cancer”. Following this Dhilshan was employed within the Rossjohn Laboratory in Stephanie Gras’ team. Recently Dhilshan has recently moved to work in A/Prof Stephanie Gras’ newly established lab. Dhilshan specialises in protein expression in both mammalian and bacterial systems, purification and crystallography techniques.
Outside the lab, Dhilshan is an avid cricket fan, supporting Sri Lanka. He is also into many health and fitness activities, and enjoys going to the gym.
Twitter @djayy_93
Lawton Murdolo (PhD student)
Lawton joined the lab in 2021 for his Master degree working on SARS-CoV-2 mutation and their impact on the T cell recognition. During his Master year, Lawton determine the very first structure of HLA-A29 molecule, which was a tricky molecule to crystallise. His hard work paid of and he manage to obtain the structure of HLA-A29 in complex with a Spike derived peptide from SARS-CoV-2 that can activate a strong T cell response. This work was important and helped us understand why a single mutation in the Omicron variant of the virus lead to a complete abrogation of the T cell recognition. His work was published in Nature Communications and he was invited to present at the Combio conference. Following on his successful Master year, degree awarded, he received an RTP PhD scholarship and started his PhD with the Gras Lab at the end of 2022.
Outside the lab, Lawton is a fantastic Goal Keeper at Ice Hockey.
Twitter @LawtonMurdolo
Samuel Liwei Leong (PhD student)
Samuel Liwei Leong undertook a bachelor’s degree of biomedicine at La Trobe University in the Gras Lab (3rd year biochemistry and microbiology). He has an aspiration to become a medical scientist and to complete an honours and PhD degree immunology or in the relevant field. With the goal of joining the Australian Army Reserves as a medical officer (part-time). In 2022, Sam did his honours degree under Dr. Emma Grant’s supervision with his work focusing on the discovery of new influenza virus epitopes that can stimulate T cells. After a very successful honours year, Sam has been awarded an RTP PhD scholarship and will start his PhD in February 2023 in the Gras Lab still under Dr. Emma Grant’s supervision.
Outside the lab, Sam like to work on cars, play basketball and workout in the gym.
You Min Ahn (PhD student)
You Min first undertook her Summer internship with the Gras Lab in January 2021, just after we moved to La Trobe University. This placement was part of her Bachelor of Science from Monash University with major in Biochemistry and Genetics. Then You Min was a casual assistant in the lab, before starting her honours degree at La Trobe University in 2022. Her project was focused on how multiple HLA molecules could present and bind to the same SARS-CoV-2 peptides.
Outside the lab, You Min is fan of Justin Bieber, great Karaoke singer, and plays violin.
Georgia Dow (PhD Student)
Georgia completed her Master of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics part-time at La Trobe University in our lab. She graduated with first-class honors and received the Highest Achiever Award for her research project. As a result, Georgia secured a PhD scholarship and began her PhD in our lab. Her project focuses on understanding the T cell response to influenza and discovering new epitopes.
Outside the lab, Georgia is an avid reader, favouring fantasy novels and thrillers, is constantly listening to true crime podcasts and loves to dance.
Jamie Tuiebo (PhD Student)
Jamie is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at La Trobe University. She completed her Bachelor of Science, majoring in Infection and Immunity, at the University of Melbourne, and she loves learning about immunology. Jamie joined the Gras Lab in 2023 to complete the research component of her master’s, focusing on SARS-CoV-2. Upon completing her master’s, Jamie secured a PhD scholarship and began her PhD, studying both SARS-CoV-2 and HIV infections and the associated immune response.
Outside the lab, Jamie like to read books/manga, paint, and play games on my Switch.
Twitter @jamietuibeo97