WEHI Welcomes Three New Laboratory Heads
WEHI has announced the appointment of three new laboratory heads: Dr. Danika Hill, Dr. Jacki Heraud-Farlow, and Dr. Sylvie Callegari. Each will lead research programs focused on various aspects of biological and medical science. Dr. Hill is an immunologist, Dr. Heraud-Farlow is an RNA biologist, and Dr. Callegari is a mitochondrial biochemist.
Dr. Danika Hill: Immunology and Vaccine Innovation
Dr. Danika Hill is an immunologist whose research centers on translating insights into T and B cell biology into new vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases.
Dr. Danika Hill's research centers on translating insights into T and B cell biology into new vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases.
She completed her PhD at WEHI and gained postdoctoral experience at the Babraham Institute in the UK and Monash University. Her laboratory at WEHI will focus on immune system function, vaccine design and development, antibody-based therapies, and understanding disease-causing biological processes.
Dr. Jacki Heraud-Farlow: RNA Biology and Inflammatory Insights
Dr. Jacki Heraud-Farlow, an RNA biologist, joins WEHI from the Hudson Institute of Medical Research. Her work investigates how cells differentiate their own RNA from viral RNA and how errors in this process can lead to inflammation and disease.
Her work investigates how cells differentiate their own RNA from viral RNA and how errors in this process can lead to inflammation and disease.
She has focused on rare genetic disorders, such as Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS), to gain insights into a broader spectrum of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. Her WEHI laboratory will cover fundamental discovery, disease modeling, and the development of RNA-based therapeutics.
Dr. Sylvie Callegari: Mitochondria and Neurodegenerative Therapies
Dr. Sylvie Callegari, a mitochondrial biochemist, has been a senior member of Professor David Komander’s laboratory at WEHI since 2019. Her research examines how cells maintain healthy mitochondria and the mechanisms that go awry in diseases like Parkinson’s disease.
In 2025, Dr. Callegari was the lead author of a discovery published in Science that detailed the structure and activation of PINK1, a key protein linked to Parkinson's disease.
Her new laboratory will continue work on PINK1, establishing a research program on ubiquitin-mediated mitochondrial quality control, with the aim of uncovering new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Her new laboratory will continue work on PINK1, establishing a research program on ubiquitin-mediated mitochondrial quality control, with the aim of uncovering new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. Her expertise is expected to enhance collaborations across WEHI in areas including Parkinson’s disease, cancer, inflammation, and immunity.