Richard Boyd

Richard Boyd is a Professor of Monash University in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, where he is a member of the Executive and also Group Leader of Stem Cells and Immune Regeneration laboratory. He is a member of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Faculty and has also developed extensive international collaborations. In particular, he holds Honorary Adjunct Professorships at Kunming Medical University (China) and at Tokushima University (Japan). He was founding Director of the Australian node of the Sino-Australian Centre for Excellence in Stem Cells. Much of his research has focused on the formation and growth of the immune system and its repair following damage through infection, radiation, chemotherapy, autoimmunity and natural aging process. As CSO of Norwood Immunology, his team undertook the first successful clinical trial to rebuild the thymus-based immune system in cancer patients undergoing high dose chemotherapy. His group’s recent studies have identified thymus stem cells and harnessed the immunomodulatory and pro-repairing properties of mesenchymal stem cells for treating autoimmunity and particularly musculoskeletal sporting and arthritic conditions. His group also have major interests in the molecular engineering of the immune system to target cancers and the diversity of stem cells available, yet discarded, at birth and potential for a wide range of regenerative therapies. Richard has published over 280 papers and has had a major role in the education of undergraduate and over 100 postgraduate students at Monash University. In 2003 he was awarded an Australian Federal Government Centenary Medal for International Research and Teaching and in 2004 the Australian Federal Government Business/Higher Education Round Table Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Development, Education and Training.