Incensed in his early 20s when he finally realised just how cool science was, Todd Norton determined he would become a teacher so no other student would miss out.
“It just didn’t come across how cool science was in school. And I thought I’d become a teacher to show (students) just how cool it can be,” the now Dr Norton says.
However, a teacher friend steered him away from the profession, suggesting he should “have a go at actual science”, saying ‘If it turns out you hate it, or if you’re no good at it then just go and do a Diploma of Teaching it’s four years and you’ll end up in the same place anyway.’.”
Dr Norton is grateful he chose that path, completing a Bachelor of Science at the then University of Adelaide, where lab placements and the chance to “pick actual scientists’ brains” sparked his passion for immunology.
After a summer research scholarship and PhD, he joined Professor David Lynn’s team in 2020 on a one-year contract – and six years later, he’s still there. With support from the Firefly Children’s Foundation, the team is investigating how gut bacteria influence long-term health and vaccine responses.
The team recently found that newborns in neonatal intensive care who are treated with antibiotics can have weaker responses to vaccines during their first 15 months of life.
Their research also showed that this may be linked to a loss of Bifidobacterium – a beneficial type of gut bacteria – which appears to play an important role in how well vaccines work.
Exactly how this bacteria supports the immune system is not yet fully understood. This project aims to answer that question, with the goal of developing new ways to better protect infants and young children from infection.
“When most people think of gut bacteria, they’re thinking they help you break down food and all of that – but it actually has a pretty big impact on how your immune system functions,” Dr Norton said. “And that can have pretty big implications for one, how you respond to vaccination, but also things like development of allergy or autoimmune diseases or – even – how severe an infection is if you get one,” Dr Norton explains.
“We’re particularly focussed on children because it’s easier to try and start an intervention before a problem develops.”
As with all research, it’s not a linear path from hypothesis to solution.
“Although it’s often what we present to the public is we started here and it went here but often it’s all over the place, with a lot of dead ends,” he says.
“The challenge to overcome is that once you get sort of stuck in those areas where you know you’ve got something to work with, but you can’t quite figure out the next step forward with science.”
And that joy of collaborating extends across the globe. “We have external collaborators all over the world, and working together with them when you’ve stuck on a problem is one of the rewarding and satisfying parts of science,” Dr Norton says. “You’ll come together to work towards a common goal. Everyone is lifting everyone else up.”
While the science is complex, the impact is deeply human and advancing that work relies on the support of organisations willing to back emerging ideas.
Support from the Firefly Children’s Foundation has been pivotal – both practically and personally.
“For the Firefly Children’s Foundation to back our work provides real validation,” Dr Norton says. “It tells you that what you’re doing matters, that others see value in it, and that gives you a huge sense of purpose.”
“It simply wouldn’t be possible without that support – our research just wouldn’t be happening.”
As an early career researcher, that backing is even more significant.
“It can be really challenging for younger scientists to secure funding,” he says. “Support like this helps us build our careers and keep pushing forward. For the Firefly Children’s Foundation to back young researchers like me is such a massive boost.”
Dr Norton is also grateful for the early advice that steered him away from teaching and into research – a path he now can’t imagine leaving.
For those considering a future in children’s research, his advice is simple.
“Be curious,” he says. “Ask lots of questions. The people who come in and really want to understand how everything works – they’re the ones who become the best scientists. Curiosity is one of the most important traits you can have.”
Looking ahead, Dr Norton hopes his work will help give children the strongest possible start to life.
“Our research is focused on infants in that first year of life,” he explains. “We’re working towards interventions that can support the development of their immune system early on – not just here in South Australia, but globally. Ultimately, it’s about helping shape lifelong health from the very beginning.”
