Professor Eugene Athan OAM

Director of the Barwon South West Public Health Unit. Professor of Infectious Disease at School of Medicine, Deakin University and Honorary at University of Melbourne.

He is the Co-Director of the Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease and Immunology Research (CIIDIR) a collaboration between Deakin University and Barwon Health with an operational budget of $5million per annum. Vision is to study diseases of public health importance, translating laboratory insights into clinical care, and public health policy. Flagship programs include medical device infections, a biofilm laboratory, Mycobacterium ulcerans, COVID-19 and Staphylococcus aureus research.

He leads a diverse team of 80 early and experienced researchers comprising of molecular biological, microbiological, environmental, material scientists, public health specialists, epidemiologists, and clinicians.

He has over 250 publications in peer reviewed journals and has several grants including a FDA Long COVID cohort study.

He is a senior Council member of ISCVID and a PI for SNAP, PIANO and ROADMAP studies. He is an experienced clinical trials specialist with more than 25 advanced trials including Chief PI for the RSV and S. aureus vaccine candidates.

Affiliations: Epworth HealthCare, VIC, Australia / Barwon Health, Public Health unit, VIC, Australia / School of Medicine, Deakin University, VIC Australia / St John of God Healthcare, VIC, Australia / Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease and Immunology, VIC, Australia