Dr Liriye Kurtovic
Senior Research Officer
Working groups
Background
Liriye (Lydia) Kurtovic completed a PhD at Monash University in 2019 where she identified that antibodies fix and activate serum complement proteins to kill Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites. She is currently a senior research officer in the Malaria Immunity and Vaccines group and has developed high-throughput approaches to evaluate the immunogenicity of preclinical and approved malaria vaccines. Her research aims to identify immunological correlates of protection in children given the RTS,S malaria vaccine, and to translate this knowledge into developing novel malaria vaccines with enhanced efficacy and durability using mRNA technologies.
Qualifications
- 2019: PhD, Monash University
- 2014: Bachelor of Science (Honours), Monash University
Positions
- 2019–present: Senior Research Officer, Malaria Immunity and Vaccines, Burnet Institute
Awards
- 2025: Gust Translational Fellowship (CIA), Burnet Institute
- 2024: Discovery Innovation Fund (CIA), Burnet Institute
- 2023: mRNA Victoria Research Acceleration Fund (CIA), Victorian Government
- 2023: Moderna Global Fellowship (CIA), Moderna
- 2023: Miller Foundation Biomedical Research Travel Award, Burnet Institute
- 2022: Burnet Research Excellence (CIA), Burnet Institute
- 2022: Harold Mitchell Postdoctoral Travel Fellowship, Burnet Institute
- 2021: First Prize postdoc oral presentation, Malaria in Melbourne conference
- 2021: Career Development Award, Lorne Infection & Immunity conference
- 2020: CASS Medicine/Science Grant (CIA), Burnet Institute
- 2020: Know C19 Initiative (co-CIA), Burnet Institute
- 2020: Seed Grant (CIA), Australian Centre for Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination
- 2020: Early Career Award (CIA), Thrasher Research Fund
- 2019: First Prize postdoc poster presentation, Lorne & Immunity conference
- 2018: Student Travel Grant, Australian Society for Parasitology
- 2018: Postgraduate Publication Award, Monash University
- 2018: Burnet Prize for Infectious Diseases Research, Alfred Health Week poster display
- 2018: Harold Mitchell Postgraduate Travel Fellowship, Burnet Institute
- 2018: Early Career Researcher Award, Australasian Vaccines and Immunotherapeutic Development conference
- 2017: Network Researcher Exchange, Training and Travel Award, Australian Society for Parasitology
- 2017: First Prize 3 minute thesis presentation, Burnet Institute student symposium
- 2017: Third Prize student poster presentation, Lorne & Immunity conference
- 2016: Third Prize student poster presentation, Monash university Central Clinical School student symposium
- 2016: Postgraduate Travel Award, Monash University
- 2015: Nairn Prize in Immunology, Monash University
- 2015: Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, Monash University
- 2014: Third Prize student oral presentation, Burnet Institute student symposium
Appointments
- 2024–present: Honorary Senior Fellow, Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne
- 2023: Life Sciences Discipline Seminar Series co-convenor, Burnet Institute
- 2021–present: Review Editor, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
- 2019–present: Adjunct Research Associate, Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University
- 2017–present: Australian Society for Parasitology
- 2016–2018 and 2023–present: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- 2017: Student Representative, Burnet Institute
Burnet publications
View 20 moreInduction of Fc-dependent functional antibodies against different variants of SARS-CoV-2 varies by vaccine type and prior infection
Communications Medicine
Alexander W. Harris et al
Antibody mechanisms of protection against malaria in RTS,S-vaccinated children: a post-hoc serological analysis of phase 2 trial
The Lancet Microbe
Liriye Kurtovic et al
Declining Antibody Affinity Over Time After Human Vaccination With a Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Vaccine Candidate
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
Kristina E. M. Persson et al
Current projects
View 2 more
Vaccines against malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax
The project identifies and prioritises candidate antigens for vaccine development.
Malaria Synergy Program
The program brings together experts to achieve the goals of malaria elimination in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
MASTER-MAP: modern acceleration strategies for eradication of malaria in the Asia Pacific
We're developing novel solutions and high-quality evidence to inform policies and practices that address the major barriers in malaria elimination.
