Rate My Professor Scott Byrne

Professor Scott Byrne is a Professor of Immunology in the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, at the University of Sydney. He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney (1998-2002), undertaken in the Dermatology Department at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, a Bachelor of Medical Science with First Class Honours, and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from the same university. Following his doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Returning to Australia, he was appointed as an NHMRC C.J. Martin Fellow and Cancer Institute NSW Senior Research Fellow, establishing his independent research group. He currently serves as Head of Department, acting Director of Academic Career Development, Level 3 supervisor, and leader of the Anti-inflammatory and Immunotherapies Research Group. Since 2017, Professor Byrne has directed research at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research, investigating the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease. He also holds the position of Deputy Treasurer for the Australia and New Zealand Society for Immunology.

Professor Byrne specializes in immunology and photomedicine, with research interests encompassing UV-induced immune suppression, cellular immunology, immune modulation, anti-inflammatories, and the effects of ultraviolet radiation on immune responses, including T cell recirculation through sphingosine-1-phosphate and immune suppressive lipidomes in skin-draining lymph nodes. Key publications include "Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation establishes a novel immune suppressive lipidome in skin-draining lymph nodes," "Exposure to systemic immunosuppressive ultraviolet radiation alters T cell recirculation through sphingosine-1-phosphate," "Optimal isolation protocols for examining and interrogating mononuclear phagocytes from human intestinal tissue," "IgG3+ B cells are associated with the development of multiple sclerosis," and "B cell-targeted immunotherapy limits tumor growth, enhances survival, and prevents lymph node metastasis of UV-induced keratinocyte cancers in mice." His scholarship has amassed over 3,500 citations and an h-index of 33. Among his honors are the Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund Prize for Discovery in Medical Research (2020), Finsen Lecturer Award (2019), Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Research and Teaching (2016), Asia & Oceania Society for Photobiology Award for Young Scientists (2015), European Society for Photobiology Young Investigator Award (2011), and NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2009). Professor Byrne teaches immunology across undergraduate science, higher degree research, and professional programs in nursing, dentistry, and medicine.