About
Dr Nirupama Nammunige is a Postdoctoral Research Officer in Devine’s Group. She is an early-career biomedical scientist who was recently awarded her PhD (2024) from the University of Queensland.
Her research explores whether the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, Imojev®, provides cross-protection against the lethal Murray Valley encephalitis virus.
Prior to her PhD, Dr Nammunige completed an Honours degree in Zoology and a Master of Science in Molecular and Applied Microbiology at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Research Skills
Her expertise include, medical and veterinary infectious diseases, drug discovery, cell culture, plaque reduction neutralisation assays and preclinical drug testing.
She is also proficient in mouse IV injections, tail vein bleeding, CO₂ euthanasia, isoflurane anesthesia, ear notching, oral gavage, handling, restraining, foot measurement, and monitoring. Currently, Dr Nammunige is engaged in multiple projects related to arboviruses, focusing on the immunological efficacy of Japanese encephalitis vaccines.
She is a key member of a research collaboration between NSW Health, UQ CCR, and the QIMR Berghofer Mosquito Control Laboratory (MCL), investigating the antibody response and immunological effectiveness of a reduced-dose, intradermal administration of the JE vaccine Imojev®.
Additionally, she contributes to an MCL-led project (led by Dr. Leon Hugo) on the quantification and identification of JEV-infected mosquitoes, as well as mosquito-mouse models of arbovirus transmission.
Area of Interest
Arboviruses, parasitology, infectious diseases, drug discovery
Funding
- UQ-QIMRB, Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre (AID) Seed Grant. A unique opportunity to determine if the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, Imojev®, confers cross-protection against the lethal Murray Valley encephalitis virus. CIA N Nammunige $50,000. 2024-2025.
- Biocelect/Substipharm Pharmaceutical Industry Support (Commercial). Imojev Vaccinations and MVEV Neutralising Antibodies. Lead Researcher N Nammunige ($185K). 2024-2025