Associate Professor Allison Pettit has recently been appointed to the position of Director of Biomedical Research at Mater Research from a field over 20 high-quality international, national and local applications.

A/Prof Pettit will be known to many as Leader of the Bones and Immunology Research Group at Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland (MRI-UQ), and as Head of Research Strategy for the Institute.

As an ARC Future Fellow, A/Prof Pettit holds significant grant funding, including from the National Health and Medical Research Council and has published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications. She has been recognised for her work in dendritic cell biology, rheumatology, osteoimmunology and haematology.

In her role as Head of Research Strategy and Chair of the Gender Equity Working Group A/Prof Pettit has driven a number of initiatives in Mater Research, including the Mater Research Strategic Grant for Outstanding Women and proactive approaches to the management of research integrity.

“I am delighted to have this opportunity to take on the role of Director of Biomedical Research and am excited about Mater Research’s potential and playing a part in the organisation’s ongoing success,” A/Prof Pettit said.

A/Prof Pettit also recently lead a collaborative study on a novel ‘roadmap’ of bone formation in the small bones of the hand to better inform future investigation of the underlying pathological features of skeletal dysplasias, and was published in The American Journal of Pathology.

Mater Research Chief Executive Officer Professor John Prins said he was looking forward to Allison joining the Executive team.

“On behalf of the Board, I congratulate Allison, welcome her to the Executive, and look forward to her ongoing significant contribution to the development of Mater Research,” Professor Prins said.