Nada Slakeski is a Senior Research Fellow in the Melbourne Dental School with over 30 years of research experience in the fields of molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry. Her research projects largely investigate the virulence factors of oral pathogens associated with disease.
A main focus of this research has involved development of a vaccine candidate against an oral pathogen associated with periodontal disease and chronic systemic conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, heart conditions and arthritis. Nada is the recipient of multiple awards recognizing her significant contribution to research in her field and has vast experience as a supervisor of postgraduate students.
Following a Postdoctoral fellowship at The University of Zurich, Switzerland, Nada returned to Australia in 1995 where undertook the position of senior research leader and molecular biologist at The University of Melbourne Dental School, where she has remained ever since. Most of her research involves investigation of the oral pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola, which are the major causal agents of periodontal disease. These pathogens are also associated with an increased risk in developing chronic systemic conditions including; arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, oral cancers and low birth weight of infants. Her research projects largely focus on investigating the virulence factors of these two organisms. Some of these virulence factors include; proteolytic enzymes, bacterial vesicles, biofilms and chemotaxis systems to name a few. A major research focus has involved the development of a vaccine candidate against periodontal disease. Consequently, Nada is a research leader in the spin-off biotech company Denteric, where she is currently involved in the translation of basic research into commercial products. Nada is named inventor on several Patents and has numerous publications in high impact factor journals. She has received multiple national and international awards for her research and has been a primary supervisor of numerous honours, masters and postgraduate students to completion.
Find out more about Nada Slakeski's experience
Nada Slakeski's highlights
FEATURED Journal article
The Role of Treponema denticola Motility in Synergistic Biofilm Formation With Porphyromonas gingivalis
Read moreNada Slakeski's selected work
Characterisation Of Treponema Denticola Chemoreceptors
Research Grant
A therapeutic Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain vaccine induces neutralising IgG1 antibod..
Journal article
Development Of A Site-Specific, Predictive Assay For Periodontal Disease Progression Using..
Research Grant
PG1058 Is a Novel Multidomain Protein Component of the Bacterial Type IX Secretion System
Journal article
Molecular Characterization Of The Gingipains Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis
Research Grant
Spheres of influence: Porphyromonas gingivalis outer membrane vesicles
Journal article
Nada Slakeski's selected work
Projects
Displaying the 6 most recent projects by Nada Slakeski.
Project Types
6
Research Grant
Scholarly Works
Displaying the 52 most recent scholarly works by Nada Slakeski.
Keyword Analysis
Honours, Awards and Fellowships
Medal Accepted and Issued
Highest ranked research project
Oral Biology Award: Award for excellence in research in the field of oral biology (Chiba, Japan 2001)
Research Travel Award
International Hatton Award; Second place, (IADR- conference, Nice, France 1998)
Postdoctoral Research Scholarship
Colgate Award for Postdoctoral Dental Research (Dunedin, N.Z. 1997)
Credentials
Positions
Positions
Senior Research Fellow
Melbourne Dental School
Education
Education
Bachelor of Science
La Trobe University
Doctor of Philosophy
La Trobe University