Global Health, Public Health, Translational and Clinical Research, Head - Vaccine Research Group (VRG)

• Professor Michelle Giles

  Research Group Leader

  michelle.giles@unimelb.edu.au
  

Research Overview

Research Overview

Professor Michelle Giles is an infectious diseases specialist and physician-scientist with unique expertise in infections in pregnancy. She has an appointment in the Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne and in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University. Her clinical infectious diseases practice is at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Alfred Health and Monash Health, Melbourne. Her clinical work focuses on infections in pregnancy and blood borne viruses, particularly HIV and hepatitis B. She also has extensive experience in adult immunisation focusing on maternal immunisation and immunisation in special risk groups.

Her current research program spans basic science with a focus on the non-specific effects of maternal immunisation in pregnancy. Professor Giles has been on the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Pregnancy and Perinatal Care Panel since its inception, has been Deputy Chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), Co-lead of the ATAGI COVID-19 Working Group, and has had  a number of roles in an advisory capacity to the WHO including most recently being appointed to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Group B Streptococcus Vaccine Development (TAG-GBS) and the WHO Monkeypox Clinical Guideline Development Group.

Current studies

*Chlamydia vaccine
*CMV vaccine
*Combined Covid-19 and Influenza vaccine
*Norovirus vaccine

Epidemiologic Studies

*Epstein Barr Virus natural history

Clinical Trials
We draw on three decades of clinical trials experience to explore the effectiveness, antibody responses and safety of new vaccines in standard or novel schedules. VRG has been actively engaged in both industry-sponsored clinical trials and epidemiologic studies, whose findings have been vital for the licensure of several vaccines now in widespread use in Australia and/or elsewhere in the world. Vaccines evaluated have included those classified as GMOs, live-attenuated intranasal vaccines, as well as oral and conventional parenteral vaccines. We have conducted research in pregnancy, neonates, infancy, childhood, adolescence and in adults. Our research has also included adults for high priority conditions such as seasonal and pandemic influenza, and COVID-19.

Staff

• Prof Michelle Giles, Head Vaccine Research Group, Infectious Diseases Physician
• Briony Price, Doctor/Ethics and Governance Lead,
• Naomi Whyler, Doctor
• Jakki Lewis, Research Manager
• David Froon, Pharmacist
• Jeanetta Barker, Logistics and Pharmacy Lead
• Janet Briggs, Research Nurse/Nurse Immuniser
• Virginia Carpenter, Research Midwife
• AnnMarie McEvoy, Research Nurse, Nurse Immuniser
• Anna Bourke, Research Nurse/Nurse Immuniser

Research Publications

1. Giles ML, Way SS, Marchant A, Aghaepour N, James T, Schaltz-Buchholzer F et al. Maternal Vaccination to Prevent Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: An Underutilized Molecular Immunological Intervention? Journal of Molecular Biology. 2023 Jul 1;435(13):168097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168097
2. Gunatilaka A, Rolnik DL, Giles ML. Protective effect of maternal immunization on birth outcomes: A data linkage study. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2023 Jul;162(1):51-57. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.14774
3. Mantel C, Cherian T, Ko M, Malvolti S, Mason E, Giles M et al. Stakeholder Perceptions About Group B Streptococcus Disease and Potential for Maternal Vaccination in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2022 Jan 15;74(1):S80-S87. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab794
4. Abu-Raya B, Madhi SA, Omer SB, Amirthalingam G, Giles ML, Flanagan KL et al. Global Perspectives on Immunization Against SARS-CoV-2 During Pregnancy and Priorities for Future Research: An International Consensus Paper From the World Association of Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021 Dec 23;12. 808064. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.808064
5. Giles ML, Gunatilaka A, Palmer K, Sharma K, Roach V. Alignment of national COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for pregnant and lactating women. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2021 Oct 1;99(10):739-746. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.21.286644
6. Giles ML, Davey M-A, Wallace EM. Associations Between Maternal Immunisation and Reduced Rates of Preterm Birth and Stillbirth: A Population Based Retrospective Cohort Study. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021 Sep 7;12. 704254. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.704254
7. Palmer KR, Tanner M, Davies-Tuck M, Rindt A, Papacostas K, Giles ML et al. Widespread implementation of a low-cost telehealth service in the delivery of antenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time-series analysis. The Lancet. 2021 Jul 3;398(10294):41-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00668-1
8. Giles ML, Davey MA, Wallace EM. Chronic hepatitis B infection and the risk of gestational diabetes: a cross-sectional study. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2020 Aug 1;127(9):1147-1152. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16217