Dr Lisa Connor

Dr Lisa Connor is the head of the Connor Laboratory and Programme Leader of the Infection and Vaccinology Group at the Malaghan Institute. Her research focuses on the immunobiology of vaccination, aiming to build better vaccines by understanding fundamental mechanisms of immune activation. Dr Connor's work explores dendritic cell activation post-immunisation, the necessity of T follicular helper cell activity, and its impact on B-cell responses and antibody production.

Specialising in combating respiratory viruses, the Connor Laboratory develops mucosal vaccines and harnesses mRNA vaccine technology to design smarter antigens. Dr Connor has played a pivotal role in enhancing Aotearoa’s vaccine development capabilities, leading a COVID-19 vaccine programme and serving as preclinical pillar lead for the New Zealand RNA platform.

Dr Connor completed her PhD at the Malaghan Institute and the University of Otago, under the supervision of A/Prof Joanna Kirman, where she investigated CD4 memory T-cell responses to BCG vaccination. She then pursued postdoctoral research at the Trudeau Institute in Upstate New York with Dr David Woodland, studying memory CD8 T-cell responses to respiratory viruses. Returning to Aotearoa, Dr Connor focused on deciphering the biology and transcriptional profile of dendritic cells with Professor Franca Ronchese and was awarded the prestigious Sir Charles Hercus Research Fellowship in 2018.

Dr Connor established her laboratory in the School of Biological Sciences at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in 2018 and in January 2025, she took up her current position at the Malaghan Institute.