Staff Profile
Career Summary
Biography
My research has focused on the pathogenesis of asthma and respiratory infections. The major sequence of projects undertaken in this area has involved epidemiological studies, clinical studies, studies in mouse models of experimental asthma and rhinovirus infections, and more recently landmark studies on the role of micro(mi)RNAs in asthma. I have recently established the NSW Infant lung function CEntre (NICE) in order to investigate the origins of asthma in early life on a physiological, cellular and molecular level.
I have published in high impact journals [e.g. J Exp Med, Nat Med, JACI, PNAS] that have been cited more than one thousand three hundred times. My H-factor is 20 highlighting the significance of my scientific contributions to the field since 1998. Our work has received several prizes and awards at scientific meetings. Our findings have been presented at major national and international meetings in the past two years (e.g. TSANZ 2011; AAAAI 2009&2010; ATS 2009&2011; ASI 2009&2010; EAACI 2010; 8th Asia Pacific Congress of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology 2010; International Eosinophil Society 2009 and 2011; CIA 2008). I am regular reviewer of international medical journals and national and international grant funding bodies.
I am Head of the Experimental and Translational Respiratory group that employs a wide range of state-of-the-art experimental disease models (e.g. rhinovirus infection in mice, transgenic mouse models), molecular cutting-edge techniques (miRNA arraying, siRNA-mediated inhibition in vivo), ex vivo tissue culture systems (culturing of PBMCs, infection of airway epithelial cells), and infant lung function testing (e.g. the raised-volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression technique). We have successful national and international collaborations that are documented by publications in the highest-ranking medical science journals.
I am a Paediatric Respiratory Physician (FRACP) and was clinically very active throughout my academic career. I was trained at the University Children's Hospital Freiburg, Germany from 1996 to 2005 including a Research Fellowship at the JCSMR, ANU, Canberra from 1999 to 2001. I have completed a M.D. degree in Cardiology (1999, University of Hamburg) and a Doctor habilitatus (2005, University of Freiburg, highest academic qualification in Germany).
Based at the John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle, I now provide specialist services as a Consultant including Paediatric Respiratory, Sleep Medicine, and Cystic Fibrosis outpatient/outreach clinics, inpatient tertiary services, bronchoscopy, non-invasive ventilation, and infant/preschool lung function testing across the entire Northern NSW Child Health Network.
In March 2011 I was appointed as the Chair and Discipline Lead of Paediatrics & Child Health at the University of Newcastle. I am the Course Coordinator for the Women, Children, and Adolescent Course (WACH) of Joint Medical Program Year 4. We have introduced several innovations into the WACH course including clinical skills training sessions in ultrasound, setting-based learning, and online MCQ and OSCE quizzes. We have also established an online platform for script concordance testing as a written assessment tool for clinical decision making in the context of uncertainty.
I am a translational researcher with an internationally recognized expertise in both experimental and clinical Paediatric Respiratory Medicine as well as a scholarly teacher with the vision to promote self-improving health care to children and their families through excellence in research & education.
Qualifications
- Habilitation (European Equiv to Doctor of Sc), University of Freiburg - Germany, 21/12/2005
- Doctor of Medicine, University of Hamburg - Germany, 31/12/1998
Research
Research keywords
- Asthma and wheezing
- Immunology
- Infant lung function
- Paediatrics
- Respiratory Diseases
- Rhinovirus
Research expertise
Role of microRNA in antiviral responses, Role of microRNA in the pathogenesis of asthma, Role of TRAIL in allergic airways disease, Asthma in early life.
Languages
- German
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 110700 | Immunology | 65 |
| 110399 | Clinical Sciences Not Elsewhere Classified | 25 |
| 060499 | Genetics Not Elsewhere Classified | 10 |
Appointments
| Health Professional Research Fellowship (Part-time) National Health & Medical Research Council (Australia) | 01/12/2007 - 01/12/2011 |
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Immunology
- Paediatrics
- Respiratory Diseases
- Virology
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 31 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $6,322,261 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (5 grants)
Asthma Australia Scholarship$73,959
Funding Body: Asthma Australia
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| National Research Program (PhD Scholarship) | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $73,959 | 2013 | 2015 |
| GNo:G1300552 | ||
Molecular and cellular characterisation of TLR7 signalling in rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbation$25,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Paul Foster | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1300692 | ||
Molecular and cellular characterisation of TLR7 signalling in rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbation$25,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1300469 | ||
DP73 Digital colour and monochrome camera + cellSens software + Xcite120 fluorescence lamp illuminator$20,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Doctor Alan Hsu, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Katie Baines, Associate Professor Jodie Simpson, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Steven Maltby, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Gerard Kaiko, Doctor Jay Horvat, Doctor Simon Keely, Mr Andrew Jarnicki, Doctor Michael Fricker | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1201186 | ||
Effect of better asthma management in pregnancy on antiviral responses, atopy and airways inflammation in early childhood$10,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Doctor Vanessa Murphy | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1300476 | ||
2012 (5 grants)
SpectraMax M5e Multi-Mode Microplate Reader$50,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Jay Horvat, Doctor Simon Keely, Mr Andrew Jarnicki, Doctor Linda Howland, Doctor Kelly Asquith | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1100975 | ||
The Growing into Asthma Study: Wheezing prevalence and markers of airways inflammation in preschoolers born to mothers in asthma exacerbations in pregnancy$25,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Emeritus Professor Michael Hensley, Conjoint Associate Professor Bruce Whitehead, Doctor Vanessa Murphy | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1200662 | ||
Coordinated targeting of immune pathways to suppress infection-associated inflammatory diseases.$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1200671 | ||
Molecular and cellular characterisation of TLR7 signalling for the expression of rhinovirus induced asthma exacerbation$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1200680 | ||
Novel molecular markers in children with eosinophilic oesophagitis – association with symptoms, oesophageal function and treatment response and role in disease pathogenesis$20,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Scott Nightingale, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Adam Collison, Professor Nick Talley | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2012 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1200661 | ||
2011 (4 grants)
Targeting microRNA (miRNA) as a unified therapeutic approach to the treatment of asthma and allergic inflammation$651,732
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Rakesh Kumar | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $651,732 | 2011 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1000262 | ||
Molecular characterisation of TRAIL-regulated signal transduction pathways and their role in the development, persistence, and exacerbation of allergic airways disease$615,048
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Nikki Verrills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $615,048 | 2011 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1000314 | ||
SCIREQ FlexiVentFX system + FlexiVentFX extension$45,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Paul Foster, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Simon Keely, Doctor Jay Horvat, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Catherine Ptaschinski, Doctor Kelly Asquith, Doctor Gough Au, Conjoint Associate Professor Peter Wark, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Judith Black, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Professor Paul Hertzog | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $45,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1100037 | ||
7th IES Syumposium, 21 - 25 June 2011, Quebec City$2,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,000 | 2011 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1100834 | ||
2010 (3 grants)
The role of microRNAs in the regulation of antiviral and inflammatory responses during experimental rhinovirus infection$583,500
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Paul Foster | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $583,500 | 2010 | 2012 |
| GNo:G0190183 | ||
Buxco FinePointe software and FinePointe RC system for mice
$39,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Simon Phipps, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Kelly Asquith, Doctor Catherine Ptaschinski, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Professor Judith Black | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $39,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G1000053 | ||
Molecular markers of reversible airway obstruction in early life and correlation with clinical wheezing patterns$19,842
Funding Body: Hunter Children`s Research Foundation
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Associate Professor Bruce Whitehead, Doctor Ana Pereira De Siqueira | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $19,842 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0900119 | ||
2009 (8 grants)
Mechanisms and treatment of early life chlamydial infection and associated asthma$592,125
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Kenneth Beagley, Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $592,125 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0188845 | ||
Coulter counter$41,150
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Simon Phipps, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Kelly Asquith | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $41,150 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189851 | ||
Jaeger MasterScreen Baby Bodybox for infant lung function measurement$30,000
Funding Body: Ramaciotti Foundations
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Major Equipment Award | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $30,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189323 | ||
Growing into asthma: A birth cohort study to investigate the prenatal and development origins of asthma$24,800
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Vanessa Murphy, Professor Joerg Mattes, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $24,800 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189802 | ||
Development of novel therapeutic approaches for rhinovirus - induced asthma exacerbation$24,500
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Associate Professor Peter Wark | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $24,500 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189800 | ||
Growing into asthma: a birth cohort study to investigate the prenatal and development origins of asthma$13,500
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Vanessa Murphy, Professor Joerg Mattes, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $13,500 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0190487 | ||
Small RNA molecules and Rhinovirus$5,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| New Staff Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $5,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0190605 | ||
American Thoracic Society Annual meeting, San Diego USA, 15 - 20 May 2009$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0190138 | ||
2008 (2 grants)
The role of microRNAs as new anti-inflammatory targets for the treatment of asthma$600,375
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Professor Rakesh Kumar, Assoc. Prof Klaus Matthaei, Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $600,375 | 2008 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0187584 | ||
Individually ventilated cages (IVC) and associated ventilator, holding boxes and water bottles$35,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Simon Phipps, Doctor Ming Yang, Doctor Nicole Hansbro, Doctor Kelly Asquith | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $35,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188541 | ||
2007 (1 grants)
Molecular mechanisms of persistent allergic responses$137,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Training (Postdoctoral) Fellowships - Health Professional Research Fellowship (Part-time) | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $137,000 | 2007 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0186769 | ||
2006 (2 grants)
PRC Priority Research Centre for Asthma & Respiratory Diseases$524,282
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Conjoint Professor Kenneth Beagley, Emeritus Professor Michael Hensley, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Alistair Sim, Conjoint Associate Professor Peter Wark | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Priority Research Centre | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $524,282 | 2006 | 2013 |
| GNo:G0186914 | ||
Role of TRAIL on development of atopic dermatitis and T helper type 2 immunity$16,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Joerg Mattes, Professor Paul Foster | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $16,000 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186098 | ||
2005 (1 grants)
Drug targets from new animal models$2,030,948
Funding Body: CRC for Asthma
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Paul Foster, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Joerg Mattes, Doctor Ming Yang, Dr Simon Phipps | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,030,948 | 2005 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0185860 | ||
Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 7 |
|---|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 3.2 |
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Paediatrics) | Principal Supervisor | The Role of MicroRNAs in Response to Rhinovirus Infection in Allergic Airways Disease |
| 2012 | 2016 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Principal Supervisor | The Role of Rhinovirus, TRAIL, IL-13 and PP2A in Allergic Airways Disease |
| 2012 | 2016 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Co-Supervisor | Understanding the mechanisms of airway hyper-responsiveness in a mouse model of asthma |
| 2012 | 2016 | PhD (Paediatrics) | Principal Supervisor | Role of miRNAs in Early Life Viral Infections and the Development of Asthma in Later Life |
| 2010 | 2014 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Principal Supervisor | Role of TRAIL and TLRT in Response to Rhinovirus Infection in Allergic Airways Disease |
| 2009 | 2013 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Co-Supervisor | The Role of MicroRNA in Regulating Anti-Bacterial Responses in Innate Immune Cells |
| 2008 | 2012 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Co-Supervisor | The Role of miRNAs in Allergic Airways Disease and T Cell Biology |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | PhD (Immunology & Microbiol) | Principal Supervisor | Novel Therapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Allergic Airways Disease |
Professor Joerg Mattes
| Work Phone | (02) 40420209 (02) 49213656 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 49855277 (02) 40420023 |
| Joerg.Mattes@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position | Chair - Paediatrics & Child Health Experimental&Translational Respiratory Group School of Medicine and Public Health Faculty of Health and Medicine |
| Focus Area | Immunology and Microbiology |
| Office | 2411, HMRI, Level 2 East, HMRI, Lot 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/joerg-mattes |
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