Professor Misty Jenkins AO is a leading immunologist who has made exceptional contributions to T cell immunology. Her research, focused on developing CAR T cell therapeutics for brain cancer, seamlessly straddles fundamental discovery research with clinical application. She has advanced the cancer immunotherapy frontier through her program’s discoveries of unique brain cancer targets, creation of assays vital for novel CAR T cell therapies, and development of live cell imaging.

Of Gunditjmara descent, she is an influential contributor to First Nations affairs and actively shapes federal policy. She has chaired the board of the National Centre of Indigenous Genomics and co-chaired the MRFF Indigenous Health Research Fund, among other high-profile appointments. 

A mentor and role model, she actively promotes Indigenous representation and gender equity in STEM. She has won numerous awards including the L’Oréal Women in Science Fellowship, Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Top 100 Women of Influence and was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Misty Jenkins AO is a leading immunologist who has made seminal contributions to T cell immunology with a research program focusing on developing immunotherapy to treat brain cancer. Of Indigenous descent, she is an influential contributor to Indigenous affairs, including national governing boards and shaping federal policy, and promoting STEM to Indigenous students. She has published 51 research papers and received multiple grants and various awards including the L’Oréal Australia and New Zealand For Women in Science Fellowship, Victorian Honour Roll of Women, and Officer of the Order of Australia.