Professor Marc Pellegrini is an infectious diseases physician, Division Head at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Honorary Professor at The University of Melbourne, Honorary NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, and member of NHMRC Translational Faculty and Assigner Academy. His research bridges the gap between basic science and translation into the clinic. He is internationally recognised for seminal discoveries on host-pathogen interactions that resulted in 16 clinical trials worldwide, including interleukin-7 immunotherapy, which is now an approved treatment for the previously fatal disease caused by JC virus; and his novel approach to clearing hepatitis B infection that are potentially relevant to HIV and tuberculosis.