Jason Cole
Dr. Jason N. Cole received his biotechnology degree and Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of Wollongong, Australia. In 2008, he was awarded a NHMRC Overseas Biomedical Training Fellowship to conduct microbial pathogenesis research at the University of California San Diego. In 2012, he was awarded a NHMRC Project Grant to continue his research at the University of Queensland, Australia. Dr. Cole is currently a visiting research scientist at the University of California San Diego. His general research interests include understanding the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and the innate immune system, with a special focus on human streptococcal infections. His current research focuses on unraveling the invasive disease mechanism of group A Streptococcus (GAS), a human pathogen responsible for potentially fatal infections. The identification of virulence factors essential for severe invasive GAS disease progression may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic agents against this globally important pathogen.