Understanding how past microbial exposure shapes the lung’s immune environment and informs our ability to fight future threats.
The Hilligan Research Team studies how the lung’s immune landscape is shaped by prior microbial encounters and how this ‘immunological imprinting’ affects resistance to infections and allergic disease. The team’s ultimate goal is to design new immune-based strategies to more effectively fight infectious diseases and better treat asthma.
To achieve this, the team takes a systems immunology approach – combining advanced tools such as high-parameter spectral cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, 3D imaging, and cytokine profiling – to capture immune imprinting at the whole-tissue level.
Research areas
Research highlights
Could a forgotten vaccine help us fight both ancient diseases and modern threats?
29 May 2025
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Research sheds lights on how prior infection or inflammation may protect against infectious diseases
7 January 2025
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Mapping the lung's fight – how the entire organ responds to infection
18 April 2024
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Scientists identify interferon-gamma as potential SARS-CoV-2 antiviral
13 December 2023
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New research suggests hookworms could offer protection from severe Covid symptoms
14 August 2023
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Allergic disease research update for Allergy NZ - Dr Kerry Hilligan
30 March 2023
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