Christopher Blyth

Dr Christopher Blyth is a productive early-mid career researcher with the School of Medicine, University of Western Australia and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow. He is Head of Department of the Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Perth Children's Hospital, Clinical Microbiologist with PathWest Laboratory Medicine and Co-director of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute. He has contributed to Infectious Diseases Research throughout his career developing skills in clinical epidemiology, paediatrics and microbiology.

Dr Blyth is currently leading a productive research group focusing on influenza, pneumonia, vaccine safety and hospital surveillance for pediatric infections. He is chief investigator on current grants totalling >A$20 million (Gates Global Health Grant, NIH RO1, NHMRC partnership and project grants and NHMRC fellowship). In addition, he is chief investigator on numerous commonwealth and state government funded projects.

His current research focus include the epidemiology, diagnosis, management and prevention of childhood infection with particularly focus on influenza, upper and lower respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, respiratory co-infection, emerging viral pathogens and vaccine safety. To date, he has published >175 peer reviews publications. His research has led to significant changes in immunisation policy

Co-director, Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute

Specialist Paediatrician in Infectious Diseases
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Western Australia

Clinical Microbiologist PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and King Edward Memorial Hospital for
Women, Western Australia


Dr Blyth has been the clinical lead of the paediatric infectious diseaes service at Princess Margaret Hospital and a clinical microbiologist for PathWest Laboratory Medicine since returning to WA in 2010. In this role, he provides leadership to an expanding statewide service and frequently contributes to emerging infectious diseases issues affecting all Western Australian children.