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Clamping down on the flavours of the flu | Chris McMillan | TEDxUQ

1,033 views · Published 30 November 2018 · 10:46 · Indexed 22 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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As a PhD student at The University of Queensland, Chris McMillan spends his days working with something that most of us don’t want to be anywhere near: the flu virus. He is fascinated by the fact that things as tiny and simple as viruses can be so devastating to public health. For the past 3 years, Chris has been working as part of a molecular virology team that endeavours to end the cycle of yearly flu jabs. With their efforts, a universal flu vaccine is closer than we think and this technology could also prove to be a vital defence against other types of viruses.  Chris McMillan is a PhD student at The University of Queensland working in a molecular virology lab. After completing a Bachelor of Science in (year), he started research on influenza vaccines during his Honours year. His research focuses on viruses, how they make people sick and especially, how we can prevent the impacts of viruses on our health. Currently, Chris is investigating the influenza virus and developing a universal influenza vaccine – one that you only need once, and that will protect you from all strands of the flu! His team has been able to produce a vaccine 80 times more effective than the current flu treatment and they believe their work can be expanded to develop vaccines for other viruses, such as the Ebola virus. Chris’ TEDxUQ talk will outline his research journey thus far and discuss the promising progress that has been made towards reaching a flu-free future. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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