• About
  • Research Focus
  • Qualifications
  • Community Engagement

Eric Gowans is an experienced molecular virologist who has worked on several of the hepatitis viruses throughout his career. His PhD studies examined the replication and pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus and later he worked on hepatitis delta virus. He has worked on hepatitis C virus (HCV) since the virus was discovered. More recently, he has worked on DNA and recombinant viral vectors as potential vaccines for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV.


Our group’s research focus is to develop an effective vaccine strategy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These strategies depend on our skills in molecular biology and immunology.

Our work is directed towards translating our vaccine research into the clinic and our preclinical studies have now generated considerable data that is now included in an application to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to allow us to examine the efficacy of our vaccines, both therapeutic and prophylactic, in human clinical trials.

A therapeutic HCV vaccine may be a less expensive, effective strategy to treat patients with HCV infection and the prophylactic vaccine is designed to protect individuals at risk of infection with the virus. Our recent studies generated a range of recombinant human rhinoviruses (common cold viruses) which induced robust immune responses to HIV. These viruses are unique and may represent a novel vaccine strategy for HIV.

Qualifications

  • MAppSc
  • PhD

Professional Associations

  • Australian Centre for Hepatitis and HIV virology
  • American Society for Microbiology
  • Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)

Positions held

2008 – 2009: Executive Director, Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute

2010 – present: Senior Research Fellow, Discipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide

Eric is available to speak to the media on topics related to molecular biology, virology, immunology and vaccinology.

He has participated in occasional radio and television interviews and has given presentations for service clubs at the request of The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF). In 2015 he spoke at the SA Nurses Dinner meeting, the Mitcham Rotary Club, and gave two talks to students of the University of the Third Age.

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