Synovial Macrophages And T-cells Are Therapeutic Targets In Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$658,761.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most widespread musculoskeletal disease in Australia and there are currently no therapies that halt disease progression. Specific inflammatory events play a pivotal role in initiating and driving OA progression. In this study we will define the specific inflammatory cells involved in OA, how and why they change with time, and which can be targeted to stop disease onset and development. This will provide the platform for initiating human clinical trials.
Defining The Role Of Kidney CD103+Dendritic Cells For Treatment Of Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$599,431.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of death and morbidity. Current treatments for CKD are not effective and new therapeutic approaches are needed. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key immune cells and play a central role in kidney disease. We recently found that a major DC subset called CD103+ DCs harmed the kidney in an animal model of human CKD. This study is to determine how CD103+ DCs cause kidney damage, and how to target CD103+ DCs for development of new therapies for human CKD.
Dendritic Cells Govern The Balance Between Immunity And Homeostasis To Inhaled Antigen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$816,131.00
Summary
The development of better intranasal vaccines hinges on the improved understanding of how the immune response is initiated following vaccine delivery into the upper airways. In this project we will provide fundamental understanding of how immune responses to inhaled antigens are regulated; this considerable conceptual advance will lay the foundation for which new intranasally delivered immunotherapies will ultimately emerge.
The Role Of CD1-restricted T Cells In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
The human immune system requires T cells for survival. Specialised populations of T cells exist that patrol the body and target unwanted lipid molecules expressed by bacteria or by cells that have become abnormal or cancerous. I will identify these T cells in human blood and skin and determine their role in protection against disease. I will explore the types of lipids molecules recognised by these T cells and use this information to help prevent human diseases.
Defining The Coordination Of Immune Responses To Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Understanding how immune responses are coordinated is critical for the design of new therapies and vaccines to target infectious diseases and cancers. This project will utilise advanced imaging combined with novel tools to dissect the complex interactions that occur between immune cells as they are activated and patrol the body to eliminate infectious pathogens.
Using Single-cell Genomics To Resolve Functional Diversification By CD4+ T Cells In Vivo
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,048,096.00
Summary
During immune responses, individual CD4+ T cells multiply and produce hundreds of descendants, with close relatives within a family often developing very different skills. How such differences emerge from one ancestor remains unclear. We use new methods to look at individual CD4+ T cells in unprecedented detail, allowing us to see how close relatives begin to grow apart. Using this, we hope to find novel ways of educating CD4+ T cells to prevent infectious and immune-mediated diseases.
Dendritic Cell-mediated Induction Of T Cell Tolerance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$654,725.00
Summary
Australia has some of the highest rates of immune-mediated diseases in the world. These diseases include autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory conditions. We will use a mouse model to study how dendritic cells can prevent the onset of these conditions by inactivating the immune cells that cause them. Our findings will aid in understanding why these diseases develop and how they may be prevented and treated.