The University of Melbourne

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is part of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS), which based on its research activities, is ranked among the top 30 universities worldwide for biomedicine and is Australia’s premier research faculty in this field. The Department is at the forefront of research into the molecular analysis of microbial and viral infection and the generation of immune responses to infection. It is recognised internationally for scientific excellence and leadership across the fields of microbiology and immunology and is home to a number of Australia's most eminent biomedical scientists including Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC. Each year, the Department attracts more than $25 million in research funding through major national and international grant schemes and publishes more than 150 research papers including in top-tier journals such as Nature, Nature Immunology and Immunity. The Department offers an outstanding research culture and infrastructure in the disciplines of microbiology and immunology including multi-photon microscopy, infection facilities, advanced flow cytometry, next generation sequencing capacity and high containment laboratories for handling human and animal pathogens.

+61 3 9035 3555
micro-admin@unimelb.edu.au 
microbiol.unimelb.edu.au

The role of the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory (MDU PHL) is to collaborate with health professionals to provide vital analytic services and technical advice in public health microbiology to inform public health policy and practice. Serving the community since 1897, the MDU PHL is the longest continuously serving public health laboratory in Australia with its primary responsibility to elicit any public health implications from microorganisms such as bacteria from humans, animals, food, water and the environment. The MDU PHL is also home to Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, which facilitates research relevant to understanding the role of microbial genomics in public health and clinical microbiology practice in Australia and to provide leadership and training in this field. MDU PHL is also the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Reference Laboratory for Invasive Bacterial-Vaccine Preventable Diseases (IB-VPD).

+61 3 8344 5701
mdu-general@unimelb.edu.au
mduphl.unimelb.edu.au

Recently established, the department joined the Melbourne Medical School (MMS) in 2020, bringing together the outstanding translational and clinical expertise of infectious diseases researchers based at the Doherty Institute and MMS. 

The Melbourne Bioresources at the Doherty Institute houses and cares for small laboratory species to assist researchers studying basic biological function and disease. We are committed to the highest standards in animal care and welfare.

The Austin Health Infectious Disease Department joined the Doherty Institute in 2019, through the University of Melbourne’s Department of Medicine (Austin Health).