Dr Sacha

Dr. Sacha Stelzer-Braid is a Postdoctoral Scientist in the Virology Research Lab at University of New South Wales/Prince of Wales Hospital. Dr. Stelzer-Braid’s research interests include:

  • How point-of-care tests can improve clinical outcomes for patients
  • Role of respiratory viruses in exacerbation of chronic airway diseases including asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF)
  • Transmission modes of respiratory viruses
  • Developing novel sampling and diagnostic methods for emerging viruses including ebola.

Her studies have included the NHMRC #633238 project “Exploring the role of respiratory virus infections in childhood asthma exacerbations” with researchers at the Woolcock Insitute of Medical Research, and the “Pathogens of CF study” in collaboration with clinicians at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. She is currently working on several studies including the Center for Research Excellence “Integrated Systems for Epidemic Response”.

Dr. Stelzer-Braid lectures and demonstrates at the University of New South Wales and the University of Technology Sydney. She is interested in new methods of education and teaching to engage students in the lecture theatre and laboratory and has completed the Foundations of University Learning and Teaching (FULT) course (UNSW) and Learning to Teach Online MOOC (Coursera). She also enjoys inspiring young scientists through the CSIRO Scientists in Schools program.

Member of the Australasian Virological Society and the Australian Institute for Training and Development.

twitterTwitter: @DrSachaSB

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Recent Publications

Stelzer-Braid S., Liu N., Doumit M., D’Cunha R., Belessis Y., Jaffe A., Rawlinson W.D. (2017) Association of rhinovirus with exacerbations in young children affected by cystic fibrosis: Preliminary data. Journal of Medical Virology doi: 10.1002/jmv.24794.

Jensen, T.O., Stelzer-Braid, S., Willenborg, C., Cheung, C., Andresen, D., Rawlinson, W.D. and Clezy K. (2016) Outbreak of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection in immunocompromised adults on a hematology ward. Journal of Medical Virology, Oct;88(10):1827-31. DOI 10.1002/jmv.24521

Doumit, M., Belessis, Y., Stelzer-Braid, S., Mallitt, K., Rawlinson W.D., and and Jaffe A. (2015) Diagnostic accuracy and distress associated with oropharyngeal suction in cystic fibrosis. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, Jul;15(4):473-8. Doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2015.09.001

Stelzer-Braid S., Tovey E.R., Willenborg C.M., Toelle B.G., Ampon R., Garden F.L., Oliver B.G., Strachan R., Belessis Y., Jaffe A., Reddel H.K., Crisafulli D., Marks G.B. and Rawlinson W.D. (2015) Absence of back to school peaks in human rhinovirus detections and respiratory symptoms in a cohort of children with asthma. Journal of Medical Virology,  doi: 10.1002/jmv.24371.

Homaira N, Sheils J, Stelzer-Braid S, Lui K, Oie JL, Snelling T, Jaffe A and Rawlinson W. (2015), Respiratory syncytial virus is present in the neonatal intensive care unit. Journal of Medical Virology,  http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmv.24325

Tovey E.R., Stelzer-Braid S., Toelle B.G., Oliver B.G., Reddel H.K., Willenborg, C.M., Belessis, Y. C., Garden, F.L., Jaffe, A., Strachan, R., Eyles, D., Rawlinson, W.D. and Marks, G.B. (2015) Rhinoviruses significantly affect day-to-day respiratory symptoms of children with asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2014.10.020,

Willenborg C; Stelzer-Braid SJ (2013), ‘Sneezing leads to wheezing: microorganisms important in asthma’, Microbiology Australia, vol. 34, no. 3, http://microbiology.publish.csiro.au/?paper=MA13042

Wong KKY; Rockman S; Ong C; Bull R; Stelzer-Braid S; Rawlinson W, 2013, ‘ Comparison of influenza virus replication fidelity in vitro using selection pressure with monoclonal antibodies’, Journal of Medical Virology, vol. 85, no. 6, pp. 1090 – 1094, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmv.23532

Stelzer-Braid S., Johal H., Skilbeck K., Steller A., Alsubie H., Tovey E., Van Asperen P., McKay K. and Rawlinson W.D. (2012) Detection of viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens in patients with cystic fibrosis. Journal of Virological Methods 186:109-112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2012.08.008

Mission statement

To reduce the immunisation gap between adults and children through research, teaching and advocacy, with a special focus on the elderly, high risk and vulnerable populations.

Contact Us

Professor Raina MacIntyre

Raina MacIntyre

NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Professor of Global Biosecurity.

+61 2 93850920

r.macintyre@unsw.edu.au

Dr Elizabeth Kpozehouen

Dr Elizabeth Kpozehouen

Research Associate

02 9385 0082

e.kpozehouen@unsw.edu.au