Graduate Research Degree Awarded - Conor McCafferty

Congratulations to Conor McCafferty - Graduate Research Degree Awarded 30 May 2023.

Degree: PhD
Supervisors: Professor Vera Ignjatovic, Professor Paul Monagle, Dr Chantal Attard
Advisory Committee: Dr. Ann Frazier (Chair), Dr Nicole Messina

Thesis Title: A Blood Based Study of COVID-19

Thesis Summary: This thesis explored the impacts of COVID-19 on blood-clotting in adults and children. Investigation of samples from mild/asymptomatic infections showed some haemostatic activation that lingered past recovery. Cell-culture modelling indicated that pre-existing conditions may exacerbate clotting risk and showed that heparin anticoagulants may be effective preventative treatments or COVID-19 blood-clotting. Finally proteomic analysis helped to understand underlying pathways in children who develop severe COVID-19 symptoms. These findings improve our understanding of COVID-19 and blood clotting in children, and developed new tools to investigate haemostasis in complex clinical scenarios.

Date awarded: 30 May 2023