Philip O’Connell
Professor
Executive Director
Centre Director
MBBS, BSc(Med), PhD, FRACP, FAHMS
philip.oconnell@wimr.org.au
Centre for Transplant and Renal Research
Currently open to PHD and Honours students in the topic areas of:
Transplant Immunology and Transplant Genomics

Biography
Professor Philip O’Connell is Executive Director of The Westmead Institute for Medical Research. Prior to taking up this appointment in 2020, he was Director of Transplantation, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital. He is director of the Centre for Transplant and Renal Research and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. His research interests include the use of genomics for the development of biomarkers of renal allograft dysfunction and biomarker enrichment for clinical trials in renal transplantation. He is founding Director of the Australian Clinical Islet Transplant Consortium, a past president of The Transplantation Society and a member of the WHO Task Force on Donation and Transplantation. Professor O’Connell’s research is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.
Research interests
Renal research / Nephrology / kidney care, Genomics for the development of biomarkers of renal allograft dysfunction and biomarker enrichment for clinical trials in renal transplantation, Pancreatic islet transplantation, Xenotransplantation
Adjunct roles
Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health | University of Sydney |
Director | Australian Clinical Islet Transplant Consortium |
Current grants
JDRF Strategic Research Agreement | 2022-2024 | Using JAK inhibitors with locally delivered immunosuppression to target islet graft rejection. |
NH&MRC Program Grant | 2019-2023 | Intervening in the natural history of type 1 diabetes ; an integrated approach. |
MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission MRFF | 2023-2027 | Donor and Recipient polygenic risk scores predictive of late graft loss. |
Affiliations
Western Sydney Local Health District – Westmead Hospital – Department of Health, University of Sydney/ Sydney Health Partners, Westmead Research Hub, AAMRI, WIMR Board, Westmead Precinct
Professional Associations and Organisations
Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology | Member | |
Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) | Member | |
The Transplantation Society | Member | |
The American Society of Transplantation (ASN) | Member | |
The Xenotransplantation Association | Member | |
International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association | Member |
Awards and recognition
2004 T. J. Neale Award of the Australians and New Zealand Society of Nephrology for outstanding contribution to nephrological science. |
1999-2003 Councilor for the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand |
2002-2003 Honorary Secretary Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand |
2001-2005 Councilor for the International Xenotransplant Association |
2003-2007 Honorary Secretary/Treasurer of the International Xenotransplant Association |
2004-2005 President Elect of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand |
2005-2007 President of the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand |
2012 Distinguished Achievement Award, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney |
2010-2014 Councilor for The Transplantation Society |
2013-2014 President-elect of The Transplantation Society (AAHMS) |
2014-2016 President of The Transplantation Society |
2016-2018 Immediate Past President of The Transplantation Society |
2018 Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences |