Biography

Grant Logan is Head of the Autoimmune Gene Therapeutics Group at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and Associate Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Sydney. His career spans academia, clinical research, translation, and the biotechnology sector, with expertise in molecular biology, virology, immunology, and gene therapy. Over more than three decades, he has contributed to the development of advanced therapeutic technologies through both fundamental discovery research and industry partnerships, also serving as a consultant to biotechnology companies and as an inventor on multiple patents. His work bridges laboratory science and clinical application, including the development of diagnostic and translational programs to support emerging gene therapies. In addition to his research, he contributes leadership to national regulatory and policy initiatives as a member of the Australian Government’s Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee, providing expert advice on genetically modified organisms and emerging genetic technologies across a range of sectors, including medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.

THEMES: gene therapy, viral vectors, autoimmunity, autoinflammation, virus immunobiology

Recent publications

Gene Therapy enhances deoxyribonuclease I treatment in anti-myeloperoxidase glomerulonephritis

July 2025

Summary

*Cao Le A, Oudin V, Dick J, Alikhan MA, Gottschalk TA, Lu L, Lawlor KE, Koo Yuk Cheong D, Mandwie M, Alexander IE, Kitching AR, Gan PY, Logan GJ, & KM O’Sullivan. Gene Therapy enhances deoxyribonuclease I treatment in anti-myeloperoxidase glomerulonephritis.

JCI Insight (2025) Jul 8;10(15):e188951.

Structural characterization of antibody-responses following Zolgensma treatment for AAV capsid engineering to expand patient cohorts

April 2025

Summary

Mietzsch M, Hsi J, Nelson AR, Khandekar N, Huang AM, Zachary J, Potts L, Farrar MA, Chipman P, Ghanem M, Alexander IE, Logan GJ, Huiskonen JT, & R McKenna Structural characterization of antibody-responses following Zolgensma treatment for AAV capsid engineering to expand patient cohorts.

Nature Communications (2025) 16(1):3731.

Structural and functional characterization of capsid binding by anti-AAV9 monoclonal antibodies from infants after SMA gene therapy

July 2023

Summary

Logan GJ, Mietzsch M, Khandekar N, D’Silva A, Anderson A, Mandwie M, His J, Nelson AR, Chipman P, Jackson J, Schofield P, Christ D, Goodnow CC, Reid JH, Farrar MA, McKenna R & IE Alexander. Structural and functional characterization of capsid binding by anti-AAV9 monoclonal antibodies from infants after SMA gene therapy.

Molecular Therapy (2023) 31(7): 1979-1993.

Conversion of the liver into a biofactory for DNase I using AAV vector gene transfer reduces neutrophil extracellular traps in a model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

May 2022

Summary

*Ahmad A, Mandwie M, O’Sullivan KM, Smyth C, York J, Doyle H, Holdsworth SR, Pickering MC, Lachmann PJ, Alexander IE & GJ Logan. Conversion of the liver into a biofactory for DNase I using AAV vector gene transfer reduces neutrophil extracellular traps in a model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Human Gene Therapy (2022) 33(9-10):560-571

Adeno-associated virus vector gene delivery elevates Factor I levels and down-regulates the complement alternative pathway in vivo

November 2021

Summary

*Ahmad A, Mandwie M, Dreismann AK, Smyth C, Doyle H, Malik TH, Pickering MC, Lachmann PJ, Alexander IE & GJ Logan. Adeno-associated virus vector gene delivery elevates Factor I levels and down-regulates the complement alternative pathway in vivo.

Human Gene Therapy (2021) 32(21-22), 1370-1381

Additional information

Research in the Autoimmune Gene Therapeutics Group spans a portfolio of projects aligned with the laboratory’s two core research pillars. Within autoimmune disease, the group is developing genetic medicines that converts the liver into a biofactory for therapeutic protein output to control inflammation, with a particular focus on antibody-mediated and complement-driven kidney disease. These programs seek to establish new pharmaco-genetic approaches that move beyond conventional immunosuppression by targeting the underlying mechanisms of immune dysfunction. In parallel, the laboratory leads studies investigating the immunobiology of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy, including the role of pre-existing antibodies, the structural basis of anti-capsid immune responses, and the development of next-generation vectors capable of overcoming naturally acquired immunity. Together, these projects combine fundamental immunology with vector engineering to improve access to genetic medicines and accelerate the development of transformative therapies for patients with chronic immune-mediated disease.

Additional Information
As Director of Rheumatology Research at Westmead Hospital and Group Leader of the Autoimmune Gene Therapeutics Group, Grant leads a research program embedded within the Department of Rheumatology. The Group forms part of a broader research environment that integrates basic discovery science, therapeutic development, translational immunology and clinical research in autoimmune and inflammatory disease.

In addition to its own research programs, the laboratory collaborates closely with clinician-scientists and researchers across the Department of Rheumatology, Westmead Hospital, the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and the University of Sydney. These partnerships provide opportunities for Advanced Trainees, PhD candidates and early-career researchers to participate in multidisciplinary projects spanning autoimmune disease, biologic therapies, precision medicine and gene therapy.

Funding and Collaboration
The research portfolio is supported by nationally competitive funding and extensive collaborations with leading scientists in academic institutions, hospitals, industry partners, and government agencies in Australia and internationally. Within Westmead, the group forms part of a broader Rheumatology research environment that encompasses basic discovery science, therapeutic development, translational research and clinical investigation in autoimmune disease. By combining expertise across gene therapy, immunology, rheumatology, virology and structural biology, these collaborations enable the group to address fundamental biological questions while advancing the development of new therapeutic approaches. Past and present funding:

– $1.5M – “Overcoming anti-AAV IgA antibodies: a barrier for gene therapy hiding in plain sight.” – National Health & Medical Research Council, Ideas Grant, 2026-2029.
– $0.5M – “Overcoming antibody barriers to adeno-associated virus for gene therapy” Early-Mid Career Research Grant, Office for Health & Medical Research, 2025-2027
– $1.7M – “Leaving no child behind: enabling universal access to AAV gene therapies by vector bio-engineering to evade pre-existing natural immunity” – National Health & Medical Research Council, Ideas Grant, 2024-2027.
– $1.25M – “A novel pharmaco-genetic treatment for autoimmune kidney disease”- National Health & Medical Research Council, Ideas Grant, 2022-2025.
– $1.15M – “Exploiting anti-capsid humoral immunity induced in infants receiving gene therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy to engineer the next generation of gene transfer vectors.”- National Health & Medical Research Council, Ideas Grant, 2020-2023.
– $0.1M – “Gene therapy to extinguish inflammation and treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus” – Rebecca L Cooper Foundation and Philip Sambrook Memorial Award, 2019-2020.

Through these collaborations, the Group seeks to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into new therapies while contributing to the development of the next generation of clinician-scientists and research leaders.

Other Affiliations
– Director of Rheumatology Research, Westmead Hospital
– Honorary Hospital Scientist at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
– Member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC) to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR)
– Member of the Early Phase Clinical Trials Ethics Committee of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network.
– Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Ethics Committee of the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network

Other Information
Publications on Google Scholar
Orcid
University of Sydney Researcher Profile
University of Sydney email

Current Research Students
Bradley Hall – Mapping Antibody Responses to AAV to Overcome Pre-existing Immunity for More Effective Gene Therapies
Ann-Huang – Building adeno-associated viruses capable of evading antibody neutralisation
Imogen Astruc – Development of gene therapy to treat auto-inflammatory disease

Current grants

Professional Associations and Organisations

Awards and recognition