Dr William Pomat is the Director of the PNG Institute of Medical Research

Dr William Pomat

Dr William Pomat formerly heads IMR’s Infection and Immunology Unit. His research focuses on respiratory disease vaccine immunology, particularly pneumonia, which is a major cause of death and hospitalisation in PNG. He coordinates field and laboratory research on pneumococcal vaccine trials to determine the best schedules for PNG.

Since joining the Institute in 1987, Dr Pomat has worked towards assessing immune responses of children to Streptococcus pneumonia with aim of having a vaccine introduced into the national schedule. He has vast experience in pneumococcal serology and pneumococcal immunology and has contributed to the body of knowledge in this field in PNG and internationally. He is also Deputy Chair and Secretary of the Institutional Review Board.

Dr Pomat has a BSc from the University of PNG, a MSc from the University of New South Wales and a PhD from the University of Western Australia

Dick Hornabrook
Dr Richard Hornabrook (1968-77) was the first the first Director of the Institute of Human Biology
Michael Alpers
Dr Michael Alpers (1977-00) set the standard for the modern Institute, ensuring that there was “no research without service; no service without research.”
John Reeder
Professor John Reeder (2000-06) joined IMR during tight economic times that meant the Institute was struggling financially and seeking new sources of funding.
Peter Siba
Professor Peter Siba (2006-17), a long-term researcher and virologist with IMR, Professor Siba is the first Papua New Guinean to head the Institute.