Appointment Announcement: Director of Functional and Immunogenomics Research Strategy

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Fabio Luciani, to the inaugural role of Director of Functional and Immunogenomics Research Strategy at WIMR. 

This pivotal new position, made possible by the generosity of a philanthropic supporter, strengthens WIMR’s leadership in immunology, genomics, bioinformatics and transplantation. Together with his team, Professor Luciani will build and lead a pioneering program that integrates these disciplines to advance therapeutic innovation and address complex immune‑related conditions, particularly in transplantation and autoimmune disease. A key focus of the role will be accelerating the translation of foundational research into clinical solutions for immunocompromised patients and transplant recipients. 

In this new role, Professor Luciani and his team will also play a pivotal part in increasing WIMR’s capabilities in data‑driven discovery and AI, ensuring that advanced computational tools accelerate insights and translation across immunology and genomics.

Professor Luciani is a distinguished scientist with a strong foundation in immunogenomics, computational biology, and the leadership of cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research programs. He brings an outstanding record of research funding success, having secured more than $35 million in competitive grants, including partnerships with private industry. These funds have supported interdisciplinary initiatives spanning academia, clinical practice, and industry across national and international institutions. His leadership, supported by the expertise of his team, has consistently driven innovation and enabled the translation of scientific discoveries into real‑world impact. 

Over the past eight years, Professor Luciani has led major research in immune cells and genetics, helping turn complex data into insights that can improve care. His work has supported more than 50 research papers and contributed to large international projects published in leading medical journals. 

“I am inspired by the opportunity to shape the Institute’s functional and immunogenomics research strategy. My vision aligns with WIMR’s commitment to addressing complex health challenges through the state of the art infrastructure it provides to researchers and its successful partnerships across the Westmead Health Precinct, and connections into the highly diverse community of Western Sydney.” – Professor Fabio Luciani

At any given time, WIMR is home to over 450 research professionals, including scientists, clinician-researchers, professional staff, and research students, all working to push the boundaries of medical innovation. We also welcome local and international collaborators, who use our institute as a hub for critical problem-solving in some of the most pressing areas of medical research.