Dr Hui-Fern Koay

Dr Fern Koay is an immunologist at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne. She leads a research group studying how innate T cells—MAIT, NKT, and γδ T cells—develop, function, and respond in tissues. Her work focuses on fundamental biology, using basic immunology to understand how these cells behave in health and disease, while also developing early-stage tools to target disease.

Fern completed her PhD in Melbourne and trained at Harvard Medical School as a Visiting Scholar. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers and received national and international awards, including the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship, the American Association of Immunologists' Trainee Achievement Award, and the Victorian Premier’s Prize for Health and Medical Research. She co-chairs the CD1-MR1 international conference series, sits on the executive committee of its scientific society, and mentors early-career researchers across Australia. Her aim is to better define how innate T cells work—and how this knowledge can guide further research and therapeutic strategies.