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reNEW Melbourne Associate Investigator Dr Rhiannon Werder, a group leader at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, has received the Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellowship in recognition of her contributions to understanding children’s lung health.
The Fellowship is supported by the Rebecca L Cooper Foundation and is granted to early-career researchers who show outstanding leadership potential through new discoveries or the translation of research into real-world treatments.
The AUD 1 million (EUR 570,000 euros) fellowship will enable Dr Werder to deepen her understanding of how viral respiratory infections operate, using lung tissue grown from human stem cells.
Dr Werder explained that her team will explore how various cell types interact during infection and assess how chronic lung diseases might influence these immune responses.
“This funding will help us discover whether our own cells can be harnessed to fight infection, particularly in people with chronic respiratory conditions,” she said.
“We hope this advanced stem cell research will pave the way for new, more durable treatments for severe respiratory illnesses and save lives.”
She noted that innovation is urgently needed, as existing medications for lung conditions or infections often deliver limited or declining benefits.
“This project will help address current treatment gaps and identify new ways to combat a range of respiratory viruses, benefiting infants with underlying conditions the most,” she said.
