Dr Luke Garratt
Dr Luke Garratt
Principle Investigator
BSc(Hons) PhD
Luke is a Principal Investigator at the Institute for Respiratory Health, leading the Host and Pathogen Biology in Cystic Fibrosis research program. Luke currently leads three research programs that are aligned with improving outcomes for children and adults living with CF and other chronic respiratory diseases.
Luke is a cell biologist with nearly two decades of experience working with patient‑derived samples and primary tissue cultures, with particular expertise in neutrophil biology, host–pathogen interactions, and translational models of CF lung disease. His early research focused on the cellular and immunological mechanisms that drive airway inflammation and structural lung damage, particularly in cystic fibrosis. His doctoral work has made important contributions to understanding how neutrophils impair airway epithelial repair in early disease, and this work was awarded the Ann Woolcock Young Investigator Award from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. He then received NHMRC project and fellowship funding to work with international leaders in CF immunology to understand how bacterial and fungal pathogens shape these damaging neutrophil processes.
Luke has authored more than 60 peer‑reviewed publications in respiratory research and secured over AUD $16.5 million in competitive research funding, being fortunate to collaborate with fantastic national and international collaborators. He is an active mentor of higher‑degree research students and early‑career researchers, having supervised four PhD completions (with additional PhD candidates currently enrolled), five Masters completions, and three Honours completions. Luke also holds an adjunct appointment with The University of Western Australia and an honorary position within the Wal‑yan Respiratory Research Centre at the Kids Research Institute Australia, where he conducts collaborative research programs extending into non‑CF bronchiectasis, preterm birth–associated respiratory disease, phage therapy, and multiple sclerosis.