Theme Leader Biography

SAHMRI researchers are committed to transforming innovative health and medical research into practical benefits for patients and the community. In each of our seven research themes that address some of the most pressing and critical problems that confront our health and wellbeing today, our researchers are focusing their efforts on developing and pioneering new treatments. In addition, they are taking the lead in clinical trials that will help inform future research activities across the globe.

Professor Steve Wesselingh is SAHMRI’s inaugural Executive Director. For the last four years he has been Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University, one of Australia’s leading health Faculties. Prior to taking up the Deanship, he was Director of the Burnet Institute, an independent medical research institute that specialises in infectious diseases, immunology and public health.

His undergraduate and doctoral training was at Flinders University and Medical Centre and his post-doctoral training was completed at Johns Hopkins Medicine in the United States.

Professor Wesselingh is an Infectious Diseases Physician with research interests in Neurovirology, HIV and vaccine development. He has consistently worked towards the integration of high quality medical research with health-care delivery, leading to improved health outcomes for Australia and the poorly resourced countries of the region.