Our Directors

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

Prof William Pomat

Prof William Pomat was appointed by the Council in 2017 to lead IMR. At the time, he was the head of the Infection and Immunity Unit. His research focused on respiratory disease vaccine immunology, particularly pneumonia, a major cause of death and hospitalisation in PNG. He coordinated field and laboratory research on pneumococcal vaccine trials to determine the best schedules for PNG.

Prof Pomat joined the institute in 1987. 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, authoring hundreds of peer-review articles in scientific journals.

Prof 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

Past Directors

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.