Dale McPhee BSc (Hons), PhD
Research Coordinator
61 3 9418 1121
dale@nrl.gov.au

Since completing his PhD in 1977 Dale McPhee has worked in several challenging areas of virology. Initially with CSIRO, extensive characterisation and development of new serological tests for potential exotic animal viruses identified a new member of the Bluetongue viruses infecting sheep and cattle. Viral pathogenesis was his other keen interest identifying important pathogenic Bunyaviruses causing disease in unborn sheep and cattle. A keen interest in viral pathogenesis lead Dr McPhee to further studies in the prestigious virology laboratory of Prof Bernard Fields at Harvard Medical School. With his acquired knowledge in viral pathogenesis this lead to the ultimate challenge of understanding the devastating disease of AIDS – human immunodeficiency virus infection. This has been the area of interest for Dr McPhee for the past 17 years. A better understanding of viral pathogenesis will lead to better management, diagnosis and prevention of disease. Discoveries include the integral roles of Nef and Vpr gene products in viral pathogenesis and new and novel HIV-1 diagnostic techniques.

Dr McPhee has published over 80 original research articles, book chapters and reviews, and has several successful patent applications. His work has lead to characterisation of new viruses, development of new diagnostic techniques, and a better understanding for several viral infections through his pathogenesis studies. Dr McPhee is an associate in the Departments of Microbiology and both Monash and University of Melbourne. Training postgraduate students to become top virologists remains one of Dr McPhee's most loved achievements.

In my spare time I enjoy great Australian wine, the beach down at Somers and gardening, including the art of Bonsai.