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

Transplant Genomics Group

Transplant Immunology Group

Currently open to PHD and Honours students in the topic areas of:

Transplant Immunology and Transplant Genomics

Philip O’Connell

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