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Immunology, animal health, vaccine, diagnostic
New Zealand

Biography

Dr Axel Heiser serves as AgResearch’s Chief Scientist and Principal Scientist in the Animal Health Solutions Team. With a PhD in Biology from the University of Kiel, Axel’s career spans Germany, New Zealand, and the USA, including roles at Otago University, Duke University, and the University of Florida. A pioneer in RNA-based vaccines, he developed cancer vaccines using RNA-transfected dendritic cells. Since joining AgResearch in 2010, Axel has focused on advancing vaccine development, diagnostics, and immune health, with research that integrates immunology, nutrition, reproduction, and animal production. Currently, he is developing RNA vaccines for livestock diseases. As Chief Scientist, Axel plays a key role in shaping AgResearch’s priorities to drive innovation across New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food, and agri-technology sectors.

Activities

Employment (13)

AgResearch Ltd: Christchurch, NZ

Employment
Source: check_circle
AgResearch Ltd

AgResearch: Palmerston North, NZ

2022-11-02 to present | Chief Scientist
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

AgResearch: Palmerston North, NZ

2018-07 to present | Principal Scientist (Animal Health Solutions)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Massey University: Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, NZ

2017-07-07 to present | Adjunct Associate Professor in Immunology
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

AgResearch: Palmerston North, NZ

2010 to 2018-06 | Senior Scientist (Infectious Diseases Team)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Massey University Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences: Palmerston North, NZ

2011-11-14 to 2017-07-06 | Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Immunology (IVABS)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

University of Florida: Gainesville, FL, US

2007 to 2010 | Assistant Professor and Director of Urology Research (Department of Urology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel: Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE

2001 to 2006 | Senior Scientist (Institute of Immunology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Duke University School of Medicine: Durham, NC, US

2000 to 2001 | Assistant Research Professor (Department of Surgery, Division of Urology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Duke University School of Medicine: Durham, NC, US

1998 to 1999 | Research Associate (PostDoc) (Department of Surgery, Division of Urology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

University of Otago Christchurch: Christchurch, NZ

1997 to 1998 | Research Associate (PostDoc) (Haematology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel: Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE

1994 to 1996 | Research Associate (PostDoc) (Institute of Immunology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel: Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE

1994 to 1996 | Research Associate (PostDoc) (Institute of Immunology)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Education and qualifications (2)

Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel: Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE

1991 to 1994 | Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D.) (Institute of Immunology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel: Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, DE

1984 to 1991 | Diploma in Biology (Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Professional activities (8)

Institute of Directors in New Zealand: Wellington, NZ

2023-10-01 to present | Member
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment: Wellington, NZ

2021-05-26 to present | Assessor
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Royal Society Te Aparangi: Wellington, NZ

2020-02 to present
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Ministry of Primary Industries: Wellington, NZ

2018-08 to present | Mycoplasma bovis Strategic Science Advisory Group (SSAG)
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Australasian Society for Immunology: Mitcham North, AU

2010 to present
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

New Zealand Association of Scientists: Wellington, NZ

2020-02 to 2025-02
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

New Zealand Society of Animal Production: Palmerston North, NZ

2020-02 to 2024-01
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

American Dairy Science Association: Champaign, IL, US

2018-07-16 to 2022-06
Membership
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Funding (19)

Developing a RNA vaccine against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV)

Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Does velvet antler improve innate immune cell function? (Project Leader)

2021-01 to 2021-06 | Contract
AgResearch & DeerNZ (Lincoln, NZ)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Facial Eczema Tolerance Test (Project leader)

2020-07 to 2025-06 | Contract
B+LNZ (Wellington, NZ)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Mycoplasma bovis diagnostics - Exosomes (Contributor)

2020-07 to 2021-12 | Grant
Ministry of Primary Industries (Wellington, NZ)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

MicroRNA-based diagnosis of COVID-19 in asymptomatic people – Stage 1: Discovery of miRNA profiles in vitro (Project Co-leader)

2020-07 to 2021-02 | Grant
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Wellington, NZ)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Development and screening of deer velvet preparations as candidates for potential development of an health functional food ingredient (Objective Leader)

2019-07 to 2020-06 | Contract
Yuhan Co (Seoul, KR)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Salmonella vaccine field trial (Contributor)

2019-07 to 2020-06 | Contract
MSD (Wellington, NZ)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Effect of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis KB290 and Vitamin A on the health of mice after challenge with influenza virus (Project Leader)

2017-07 to 2019-06 | Contract
Kagome Co. (Tokyo, JP)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Improved diagnostics for detecting latent bovine tuberculosis (objective leader)

2016-07 to 2018-06 | Contract
TBfree/OSPRI (Wellington, NZ)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Effect of energy balance on immune function following Pegbovigrastim treatment in periparturient cows

2015-07 to 2016-06 | Contract
Cognosco (Morrinsville, NZ)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Pillars of a competitive and responsible dairy system: Improved longevity and reproductive performance (objective leader)

2014-10 to 2021-05 | Grant
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Wellington, NZ)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Mycobacterial Biobeads as a novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine

2012-11 to 2014-05 | Grant
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (WA, WA, US)
Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Transition Cow Management and Cow Health (Objective Leader)

2012-10 to 2016-09 | Grant
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (Wellington, NZ)
Part of GRANT_NUMBER:

DRXC1201

Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Regulation of Secretion of IL-10 and IL-12 by Dendritic Cells and T Lymphocytes and Their Use for Cellular Immunotherapy of Cancer

2005 to 2005 | Grant
Werner und Klara Kreitz-Stiftung (Kiel, DE)
GRANT_NUMBER:

05-2005

Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

New Strategies for Tumor Vaccination Using Dendritic Cells

2001 to 2004 | Grant
Deutsche Krebshilfe (Bonn, DE)
GRANT_NUMBER:

70-2906

Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Immunotherapy of Prostate Cancer with Tumor Vaccines

Grant
National Cancer Institute (MD, MD, US)
Part of GRANT_NUMBER:

1K08CA079640-01A1

Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Immunotherapy Using Mature DC Transfected hTERT RNA

Grant
National Center for Research Resources (MD, MD, US)
Part of GRANT_NUMBER:

2M01RR000030-430749

Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Immunotherapy with renal Tumor RNA Transfected Cells

Grant
National Cancer Institute (MD, MD, US)
Part of GRANT_NUMBER:

1R01CA089102-01

Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Phase I safety & feasibility of immunotherapy in metastatic prostate carcinoma

Grant
National Center for Research Resources (MD, MD, US)
Part of GRANT_NUMBER:

5M01RR000030-390723

Source: Self-asserted source
Axel Heiser

Peer review (1 review for 1 publication/grant)

Review activity for Journal of animal science and biotechnology. (1)