Congratulations to Dr Mastura Monif on her promotion to Associate Professor

The Central Clinical School is delighted to announce that Dr Mastura Monif has been promoted to Associate Professor.

Associate Professor Mastura Monif is a uniquely dual qualified neurological clinician-scientist, with a strong focus on translational research in neuroinflammation. She is an exceptionally kind clinician with a passion for improving care through research. 

She established her own highly successful and rapidly expanding Neuroimmunology, Neuroinflammation and Neurological Diseases Laboratory at the Central Clinical School. Her research has already made important contributions to the field of neuroimmunology and neuro-oncology, particularly with regard to the role of P2X7 receptor and innate immune responses in three key neurological diseases: Autoimmune Encephalitis, Glioblastoma and Multiple Sclerosis. 

The significance of her work in this area was duly recognised in 2019 by the award of a CIA MRFF grant of over $2 million to establish both a national registry and investigate key innate immune cell, serum, CSF, radiological and clinical prognostic markers of autoimmune encephalitis. This now involves 13 major hospitals in four states, and 80 collaborators. 

Her work in glioblastoma was awarded a NHMRC Ideas Grant as a CIA in 2021 and focuses on development of anti P2X7R therapies as treatment strategies for glioblastoma. 

Her work in MS relapse has been recognised by awards and funding from industry as well as MS Australia.

A/Prof Monif is also a gifted and highly valued research student supervisor, and was recognised by the Monash Graduate Research Supervisor of the Year award in 2019. She currently supervises seven PhD students, three medical students and one honours student.

“Associate Professor Monif is an exceptional neurological-clinician scientist, who is a relatively rare person who conducts both high level basic/translational neuroscience research and is an active clinician, clinical leader and researcher,” said Professor Terence O’Brien, Head of the Central Clinical School.

“She has demonstrated her extraordinary leadership abilities by establishing a highly successful laboratory group and bringing together 13 health and academic centres across the country to form the Australian Autoimmune Encephalitis Consortium Project. Associate Professor Monif has an excellent ability to make science accessible and raise awareness within the broader community, including engaging with industry, media, charities and patient support groups.”