Grant Parnell
Dr
BSc Hons Class/PhD
grant.parnell@wimr.org.au
Centre for Immunology and Allergy Research
Currently open to PHD and Honours students in the topic areas of:
Immunology
Autoimmunity
Transcriptomics
Genomics

Biography
Dr Parnell lead the Immunogenetics Group of the Centre for Immunology and Allergy Research at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research. His research focuses on the interaction between the genetic and environmental risk factors for the development of autoimmune diseases. His major disease focuses are Multiple Sclerosis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and the interactions between the genetic risk loci identified by Genome-Wide Association Studies and the environmental risk factors Epstein-Barr Virus infection and vitamin D deficiency. Dr Parnell’s research to date has required the development of expertise in experimental design, laboratory procedures and bioinformatic analysis pipelines for large-scale omics studies.
Research interests
Autoimmunity, Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Genetic risk factors, Epstein-Barr Virus, vitamin D
Adjunct roles
Senior Lecturer, School of Medical Sciences | The University of Sydney |
Additional information
National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/grant.parnell.1/bibliography/public/
USYD link – https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/about/our-people/academic-staff/grant-parnell.html
Current grants
MRFF | July 2023-June 2025 | Applying OCCAMS molecular razor to study the role of EBV in MS pathogenesis |
MRFF | July 2023-June 2025 | A phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial of SpironolacTOne and famciclovir in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: the STOP-MS trial |
Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation | January 2020- December 2023 | How vitamin D “Defining how vitamin D promotes tolerogenic dendritic cells to enable its use in combined therapy |
Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia | January 2020- December 2023 | Targeting Epstein Barr Virus transcription factor EBNA2 to control MS |
Affiliations
International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (IMSGC), Australia and New Zealand Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (ANZgene)
Professional Associations and Organisations
2020-present | Molecular and Experimental Pathology Society of Australasia | Councillor |
Awards and recognition
May 2021. University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Makers and Shapers Award for Teaching Excellence - Individual. |