Research identity
Core interests include emerging zoonoses, viral entry mechanisms, reservoir-host tolerance, interferon-stimulated genes, inflammasome regulation, comparative genomics, metagenomic surveilllance and field-deployable diagnostics.
Principal Investigator
Aaron T. Irving
Researcher working on host–pathogen interactions, emerging zoonotic diseases and comparative immunology, with a focus on wildlife hosts such as bats and translation of basic discoveries into antiviral, anti-inflammatory and outbreak-preparedness strategies.
Profile
My work analyses mechanisms of viral resistance and tolerance in wildlife hosts through comparative genomics and immunology, and works to translate these findings into antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment strategies. The research programme also includes epidemic prevention and control through tools, reagents and rapid diagnostic technologies for future outbreaks. We hope to empower others in their research and build sustainable surveilllance and diagnostic technologies across South-East Asia & the world.
Guangzhou LaboratoryZJEUniversity of Edinburgh
Guangzhou Laboratory 2025.9+Principal Research Scientist focused on emerging zoonotic infections and comparative immunology.
Zhejiang University–University of Edinburgh Institute 2020.10-2025.9Assistant Professor (ZJU) / Honorary Lecturer (UoE). Established a lab focused on emerging zoonotic viral infections, host–pathogen interactions and bat comparative biology. Course coordinator/Teaching - Undergraduate virology/immunology courses, Postgraduate PhD courses.
Duke-NUS Singapore 2014-2020SRF Lin-Fa Wang Laboratory, Headed the bat immunology program. Comparative Immunology, Inflammasome, PRR sensing.
Monash Institute of Medical Research 2010-2014Postdoc / SRF Bryan Williams Laboratory & Monash Micro-Imaging. Host-pathogen responses, Viral entry dynamics, Pathogen sensing
Diamantina Institute, UQ, Australia 2002-2009Honours, PhD - Nigel McMillan Laboratory. HSV/VZV host-pathogen responses
Honours and awardsNSFC Foreign Outstanding Young Scientist Research Fund (RFIS-II); Zhejiang Province Overseas High-Level Talent Introduction Program for Young Talents. Zhejiang Provincial NSFC Key grant. The Sidney & Joan Pestka Award for excellence in IFN research 2012.
Representative journals
Our work has appeared in journals including Nature, Cell, Nature Microbiology, Immunity, Cell Host & Microbe, PNAS, PLOS Pathogens and Trends in Immunology/Microbiology/Ecology & Evolution etc.