William Heath

Professor William Heath is a Professorial Fellow and Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne, part of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. He heads a laboratory at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Heath completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne, commencing studies in 1983 and graduating in 1988. He then pursued postdoctoral training at the University of Washington and the National Institutes of Health in the United States. In 1995, he established his independent research laboratory at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Heath joined the University of Melbourne in 2007, where he continues to lead cutting-edge immunological research.

Heath's academic interests centre on cellular immunology, focusing on T cell activation and differentiation, dendritic cell-mediated antigen presentation, and immune responses to intracellular pathogens, particularly malaria. His laboratory utilises advanced multi-photon imaging to explore infection dynamics, immunity, and self-recognition processes. Notable research projects led by Heath include Immunity to Intracellular Infections, Harnessing Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy, Multi-Photon Imaging for Infection, Immunity, and Self Recognition, Antigen Presentation, Recognition and the Immune Response, and Understanding the Diverse Biology of CD4+ T Cell Resident Memory. He has secured substantial funding through NHMRC Research Fellowships, including one in 2007, participation in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Advanced Molecular Imaging, and a $14.9 million Program Grant to Doherty Institute immunologists. Heath is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and has been named among Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics. His influential publications address key topics such as Th1/Tfh fate bifurcation in malaria via single-cell RNA-seq analysis and the interconnected networks of liver macrophages and dendritic cells. Heath co-manages the department's multi-photon microscopy facility and collaborates extensively with peers like Professors Francis Carbone, Andrew Brooks, and Jose Villadangos, contributing to advancements in immunotherapy and vaccine development against infectious diseases.

Professional Email: wrheath@unimelb.edu.au