As Director of IMPACT (Immunocellular Manufacturing Platform for Advanced Cell Therapies), a MRFF-NCRI initiative, I lead a research program with extensive expertise in immunology, particularly in natural killer (NK) cells, focused on developing innovative approaches for treating hard-to-cure diseases like metastatic cancers. Our mission is to improve patient outcomes and extend lives. Recognized as an international leader in my field, I've been instrumental in identifying novel regulators of our immune functions, and developing NK cell-based immunotherapies.

My dedication to my field has been recognized through numerous peer-reviewed grants as sole-CI or CIA/Principal Investigator, including a NHMRC ECF Peter Doherty Fellowship, an NHMRC Project Grant, a US DoD grant, and a MRFF EMCR, among others. Since 2009, I've amassed a portfolio of >130 publications in renowned journals like JEM, Molecular Therapy, Nat Comms, and Nat Immunol. My body of work and contributions have been acknowledged with awards such as the 2019 Researcher of the Year by Cure Cancer Australia, 2020 QLD Young Tall Poppy Science, 2020 UQ Frazer Institute's Rising Star, 2022 Frazer Institute's Mentor of the Year, 2023 TRI – Connecting with the Clinic, and the 2025 Dr. Jian Zhou Foundation Award for Translational Medicine, among others. In addition, I currently serve as Deputy Editor of Immunology and Cell Biology.

Since 2024 I have served as Chair of Research and Non-Executive Director of Cure Cancer Australia, the national peak body for early- and mid-career cancer research funding, where I chair the research committee and oversee grant assessment panels. I also Co-Chair the Frazer Institute's Industry Engagement and Commercialisation Committee, shaping the Institute's approach to IP management, spin-out governance, and industry partnerships. Committed to translating fundamental discoveries into real-world therapies, I co-founded the venture-backed biotechnology company Sicario Tx, focused on advancing NK cell-based immunotherapies. I have also served as a scientific consultant and collaborator for national and international biotech companies, including Biotheus (now part of BioNTech's oncology pipeline), Prescient Therapeutics, and Microba Life Sciences, contributing to their development programs.

At present, I am a Group Leader / Principal Research Fellow & Associate Professor with the University of Queensland's Frazer Institute, where I direct IMPACT — UQ's cell therapy manufacturing and translational platform, operating as an academic CRO for academic and industry partners, from cell engineering and manufacturing through to trial-enabling preclinical studies. My research group is based at the Translational Research Institute (TRI). Here, I lead a high-performing research team with a keen focus on developing and innovating immunotherapy approaches for a spectrum of diseases.