Courtney specialises in monitoring the immune system using ultrasensitive nanotechnologies
Courtney's research involves developing nanotechnologies with single-molecule resolution to further contribute to our knowledge of the immunological molecular pathways that occur in response to certain diseases and disease treatments. She uses SERS, metallic nanoparticles (e.g., gold-silver nanoboxes), microfluidics and the Immunostorm chip, which allow for ultra-sensitive detection of specific biomarkers (e.g., cytokines) that may be present at low concentrations. The information that can be retrieved from these studies can greatly assist medical professionals to understand the biological mechanisms occurring in patients and therefore, help to create treatment plans with adequate monitoring. Courtney's research primarily focuses on the immunological and cardiac response in long-COVID. She is also involved in studies investigating the role of the immune system in inflammatory conditions (e.g., psoriasis).
Courtney began her research career at the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS) at the University of Queensland (UQ), where she studied the cardiovascular system - particularly the role of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) in myocardial infarction. She gained enough skills in the histology field to later work in a professional histopathology laboratory before returning to academic research with the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) at UQ in 2021. Courtney's previous knowledge and interest in physiology has allowed her to integrate into a project that incorporates the fields of nanotechnology, biology, and medical science, and is now developing technologies with single-molecule resolution for diagnostics and biomolecular understanding.
Key Publications
1) Courtney Vedelago, Junrong Li, Kym Lowry, Christopher Howard, Alain Wuethrich, and Matt Trau. (2023). A Multiplexed SERS Microassay for Accurate Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Variants of Concern. ACS Sensors, 8(4), 1648-1657. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.2c02782