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Virologist

BSc(Hons), PhD (Otago)
Fellow of the Australasian Virology Society

Email vernon.ward@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 9028

Appointed: 1993

Research interests

  • Molecular Virology
  • Antiviral Drugs
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions

Current research

The Ward Laboratory is NOT accepting postgraduate applications and has NO research positions available.

Viruses are well known for their ability to cause disease and there is an ongoing need to develop treatments for a range of viruses. Understanding the interactions between a virus and its host cell and the mechanisms of viral replication are important for the development of antiviral agents. The diversity of structure and replication found in viruses offers opportunities for exploiting the biology and properties of viruses. Our research investigates the replication of viruses and their interaction with the host for the development of antiviral agents and understanding viral replication.

The two primary research areas in the laboratory are:

  • the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs against a range of targets and viruses (http://www.wgtn.ac.nz/ferrier/research/anzarn) and,
  • basic studies on the replication of noroviruses to identify new targets with potential for drug development.

The laboratory maintains a long-standing interest in insect iridoviruses.

Current Funding:

MBIE Endeavour Fund Programme Grant, Broad-spectrum antivirals: combating human and animal viral Diseases. Ward (PI, Science Leader).

Health Research Council of NZ, Netzler (co-PI, Auckland), Woolner (co-PI, VUW), Molimau-Samasoni (SRO Samoa), Keyzers (VUW), Ward (Otago). Harnessing the antiviral activities of Samoan traditional medicines.

Maurice Wilkins Centre, Hermant (co-PI, UoA), Campbell (co-PI, UoO), Opel-Reading (PhD, UoO), Moran (PhD, UoA), Krause (UoO), Brimble (UoA), Ward (UoO), New anti-viral based therapies for Covid-19: Protease inhibitors.

Teaching roles

Selected roles

  • 2025-present, Academic Convenor CELS 191
  • 2008–present, NZ Representative, International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses
  • 2014–2019, Dean, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago
  • 2012–2014, Head of Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Otago
  • 2017–2022, Member, Project Steering Committee, University of Otago, Christchurch Campus Redevelopment Project
  • 2014–2019, Project Owner, Chair of Executive Planning Team and member of University Project Steering Committee, Eccles Building project, University of Otago
  • 2011–2017, Executive Committee, Australasian Virology Society

Publications

Clifford, S. M., Edwards, M. J., Krittaphol, W., Walker, G. F., Harris, L. D., & Ward, V. K. (2026). Nanoparticles for antiviral nucleotide analogs: approaches and analytical challenges. Journal of Virology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1128/jvi.01758-25 Journal - Research Other

McSweeney, A. M., Clifford, S. M., Wood, J. M., Torres, D. G., Evans, G. B., Harris, L. D., Kleffmann, T., & Ward, V. K. (2026). Effects of RNA polymerase inhibitors on nucleotidylylation of human norovirus VPg. Antiviral Research, 252, 106470. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2026.106470 Journal - Research Article

Wood, J. M., Torres, D. G., Landaeta Aponte, R. A., Deshpande, S., McSweeney, A. M., Shrestha, R., … Ward, V. K., & Harris, L. D. (2026). Scalable synthesis and biological evaluation of 3'-Deoxy-3',4'-didehydronucleoside triphosphates. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 91, 6744-6750. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.6c00483 Journal - Research Article

Ward, V. K., McKenzie-Goldsmith, G. M., Edwards, M. J., Young, V. L., Kleffmann, T., Stubbing, L. A., … Brimble, M. A. (2026). The MNV-1 protease–polymerase precursor cleaves a novel site in the NS1-2 protein. Journal of General Virology, 107, 002263. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.002263 Journal - Research Article

Brimble, M. A., Stubbing, L. A., Hermant, Y. O., Yang, S.-H., Hubert, J. G., Pearl, E. S., McSweeney, A. M., Young, V. L., Campbell, A. C., Opel-Reading, H. K., McKenzie-Goldsmith, G. M., Putha, L., Mortuza, R., … Krause, K. L., & Ward, V. K. (2026). Broad-spectrum peptidomimetic inhibitors of norovirus and coronavirus 3C-like proteases. ACS Infectious Diseases, 12(1), 162-175. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.5c00680 Journal - Research Article

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