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At the Heart of Racing - Michael Landsberg

17 June 2020

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By day, Michael Landsberg leads a team of research scientists to better understand the spread of the COVID-19 virus. 

Michael's research is really focused on understanding how infectious organisms like bacteria and viruses infect humans, often causing disease, and how our immune systems respond to those infections.

Michael uses very high powered microscopes that allow him to see these organisms and the molecules they produce as part of the process of infection and what they look like in intricate detail. 

This sort of detail is necessary to do things like design drug treatments or understand how vaccines work.

Another part of Michael's research, is supporting a team of researchers who are working towards developing what we hope will be a viable vaccine to protect against infection of COVID-19. 

"It’s a very exciting project to be involved in and to see science moving at a pace that has rarely been seen before is also quite exciting," he said.  

Michael is also an avid racing fan and previous participant, falling in love with the sport in a way that is familiar to many of us - watching the Melbourne Cup as a child.​

It comes as no surprise that Michael’s favourite horse is Chile Express, which he part-owned with a group of friends. 

As a four-year-old, the horse gave Michael and his fellow owners the biggest thrill imaginable by winning a race on Melbourne Cup day with star jockey Craig Williams on board.