Andy Flies
Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Immunology – University of Tasmania
After beginning his academic journey in computer science in Minnesota, Andy Flies soon followed his curiosity back to biology. A few years – and a few continents – later, he was tracking hyenas across the Kenyan savannah, studying how ecology influences immune systems. Today, from a lab in Lutruwita / Tasmania, he’s working to save one of Australia’s most iconic species: the Tasmanian devil.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to learn from them and get feedback but it’s a good way for them to explore other opportunities…”
– Andy Flies on CD1 Conference in Tasmania
As an Associate Professor at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Andy leads the Wild Immunology Group, a team dedicated to understanding and preventing wildlife diseases – with a major focus on devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a transmissible cancer. This unique disease has devastated wild Tasmanian devil populations (with declines of over 80% in some areas), but Andy’s work offers hope. His research is not only driving promising vaccine developments, but also yielding novel insights for both human and veterinary medicine.
In 2024, Andy served as a keynote speaker at the 13th International CD1-MR1 Conference – a global immunology event he helped bring to Hobart. The conference attracted leading scientists from around the world, putting Tasmania’s cutting-edge immunology research in the international spotlight.
For Andy, Lutruwita / Tasmania is more than a research base – it’s a proving ground for globally relevant ideas. He believes our island – with its unique species, connected communities, and spirit of curiosity – is the perfect place to rethink how we approach science. From devils to data, fieldwork to public speaking, Andy’s career reflects the essence of a BET Visionary: bold, collaborative, and driven to make a difference.
Key Roles & Contributions
- Associate Professor of Immunology, Menzies Institute for Medical Research – Leads the Wild Immunology Group, advancing wildlife disease research.
- Devil Disease Researcher – Developing a vaccine to protect Tasmanian devils from transmissible cancers.
- Founder of the Wild Immunology Group – Uses studies of disease in wild animals to inform human and veterinary medicine.
- Keynote Speaker 13th International CD1-MR1 Conference – Brought a global immunology event to Hobart in 2024.
- Field Researcher – Studied hyenas in Kenya as part of a dual PhD in ecology and immunology.
- Science Communicator & Collaborator – Brings researchers together across borders and disciplines.
Andy Flies is proving that big science can come from small islands. His work is saving devils, inspiring global research, and reminding the world that Lutruwita / Tasmania is a place where unconventional thinking thrives.