Professor Jamie Rossjohn
Professor Jamie Rossjohn FAA FAHMS FLSW FMedSci FRS
Prof. Jamie Rossjohn’s research is centred on an understanding immunity. He is currently a NHMRC Investigator L3 Fellow (2022-26) and previously an ARC Australian Laureate Fellow (2017-21), NHMRC Australia Fellow (2011-16) and ARC Federation Fellow (2007-11). He was the former Head of the Infection and Immunity Program (2016-19) of the Biomedicine Discovery Institute. In 2022, Prof. Rossjohn was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society and Associate Member of EMBO.
Prof. Rossjohn is known for his contributions to the understanding the molecular basis underpinning immunity. He has used structural biology to explain pre-T- cell receptor (TCR) self-association in T-cell development, and how the TCR specifically recognises polymorphic Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules in the context of viral immunity and aberrant T- cell reactivity.
He has unearthed structural mechanisms of HLA polymorphism impacting on drug and food hypersensitivities, as well as Natural Killer cell receptor recognition. He has pioneered our molecular understanding of lipid-based immunity by T cells, revealing that it can differ fundamentally from peptide-mediated adaptive immunity.
Recently he has provided a structural basis of how vitamin B metabolites can be presented and recognised by the immune system, revealing a new class of antigen. Collectively, he has published > 465 papers and mentored numerous researchers towards obtaining higher degrees and nationally competitive fellowships.
What We Do
The laboratory is currently investigating two broad, yet interrelated areas addressing pivotal molecular interactions in immunity: Our program is inter-linked to create a complete systematic study, namely host recognition, responses developed by the pathogen, and drug design to modulate and/or counteract these events.
Here we aim to provide a fundamental advancement of knowledge of events that are central to innate and adaptive immunity. Understanding the structural and biophysical basis of MHC-restriction, TCR engagement, the structural correlates of T-cell signalling is significant; they represent central questions in the field of adaptive immunity. Moreover, investigating the structural basis of T-cell allorecognition, and T-cell mediated autoimmunity, will collectively provide clear insights into immune dysfunction. In addition, focusing on generic components of innate immunity is important, as the mechanisms underlying innate recognition, is simply unknown.
Our Highlights
Recent Fellowship and Award Success
- Prof. Jamie Rossjohn elected Fellow of the Royal Society
- Prof. Jamie Rossjohn elected Associate Member of EMBO
- Prof. Jamie Rossjohn NHMRC Investigator Leadership 3 Fellowship
- Dr Adam Shahine NHMRC Investigator Emerging Leadership 1 Fellowship
- Dr Ben Gully, Future Leader Postdoctoral Fellowship 2023
- Dr Praveena Thirunavukkarasu, ARC DECRA Fellow
- Dr Wael Awad ARC DECRA Fellow
- Dr Adam Shahine ARC DECRA Fellow (2021-23)
- Dr Laura Ciacchi, Monash Thesis BDI Highly commended Award for 2022
- Dr Wael Awad: 2023 BDI research accelerator program, 2022 Eppendorf Edman ECR Award
- Dr Adam Shahine The Dean’s Awards for Excellence in Research – Early Career Researcher
- Dr Jerome Le Nours ARC Future fellow (2016-20)
- Prof. Jamie Rossjohn ARC Australian Laureate Fellow (2016-21)
Academia-Industry
- Monash and Janssen Multi Year Research Collaboration (Watch video: Collaborating for What’s Now & What’s Next)
- Monash and Immutep Multi Year Research Collaboration
Mentorship
- Future students
Outreach
- Monash Sensory Science
- Disability student scholarships and graduate internships
Congrats Jamie and the international team on awarded funding for an 8-year research programme from global charitable foundation Wellcome Trust.
/in News /by Jennifer HuynhA team led by Professor Graham Ogg, Deputy Director of the MRC Translational Immune Discovery Unit (TIDU) and Leader of the Translational Dermatology Unit, alongside Professor Jamie Rossjohn (Monash, Australia and TIDU Affiliate member), Professor Branch Moody (Harvard, USA), Professor Muzlifah Haniffa (Newcastle) and Professor Gurdyal Besra (Birmingham), have received a Wellcome Discovery Award to investigate how immune cells […]
Monash Sensory Science ‘Highly Commended’ Award – Victorian Premier’s Design Awards
/in News /by Jennifer Huynh2023 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards Winners Announced More innovative and creative designers from across Victoria have been celebrated for their achievements, with the Victorian Premier’s Design Award of the Year shining a light on the people who take Victoria’s design industry from strength to strength. Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks today congratulated all the […]
Congrats Erica and the Monash Sensory Science team – Finalists in 2023 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards
/in News /by Jennifer HuynhMonash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s inclusive science literacy initiative Monash Sensory Science has been named as a design strategy finalist in the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards. Established by the Victorian Government in 1996, the awards highlight and celebrate local design capability across architectural, communication, design strategy, digital, fashion, product, service and student categories. Monash Sensory Science is a […]
Sophia reflects on her Rossjohn Laboratory Graduate Disability Internship experience
/in News /by Jennifer HuynhMaking science accessible to people with diverse needs is an important mission of the Rossjohn Laboratory in the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. The lab offers student scholarships and graduate internships to people with disabilities in order to broaden the diversity of people engaged in scientific discovery and to offer an inclusive opportunity to gain career experience in biomedical […]