Prof. Vicky Avery

Professor Vicky Avery obtained her PhD in 1995 (Flinders University, SA), and was awarded an Australian NHMRC Postdoctoral Fellowship which was undertaken at the University of Adelaide. Prof Avery gained significant industry experience whilst working for Active Biotech AB, Sweden (1998-2004). Her positions included, Section Head, Protein Interaction and Drug Discovery; Scientific Project Leader to identify the molecular target of ‘Laquinimod’, a novel oral treatment for MS; Director, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Director, Business Development. She was responsible for the development of assays for FDA to assess efficacy of a cholera vaccine, and identification of compounds against CD80, which led to RhuDex®, an oral treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

As Head of Biology for the AstraZeneca /Griffith University collaboration, she was responsible for more than 50 HTS campaigns conducted between 2004 -2007. These spanned all disease areas and encompassed a diverse range of technologies. Since 2007, her lab has developed innovative high throughput high content imaging assays to address the world’s neglected diseases, working in close collaboration with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV); Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi); Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund. Her lab has contributed to numerous drug discovery platforms resulting in new lead molecules. Her lab has played an integral role within the CRC for Cancer Therapeutics since its inception in 2007, providing HTS and HCI capabilities to support projects from hit identification through to lead optimization. Professor Avery is currently the Principal Research Leader, Discovery Biology; a full Research Member of the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery; Head, Griffith University Drug Discovery Programme for the CRC for Cancer Therapeutics (CTx) (2007-2020) and Deputy Dean (Research), Griffith Sciences.