The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
Understanding the immune response is proving extremely complex and promising results for disease treatments from animal models are often difficult to translate to new clinical therapies. My research is unearthing weaknesses in our current knowledge of the immune system and seeking to replace them with a foundation that can exploit new developments in computer modelling and systems biology. In this way I aim to rationally manipulate the immune response.
Targeting Host Pathogen Interactions And Signalling Networks To Promote Death Of Infected Cells And Facilitate Pathogen Clearance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Preclinical models of infectious diseases including hepatitis B, HIV, tuberculosis and human herpes virus infections will be used to understand how pathogens interact with host cells. With this understanding we aim to identify which host cell signalling pathways play a critical role in limiting or faciliating pathogen persistence. After identifying the important cellular pathways we aim to target these host cell signalling components with clinical stage drugs to promote pathogen clearance.
B Cell Survival And Responsiveness In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,584.00
Summary
I am an immunologist focused on identifying how B lymphocytes, the cells responsible for producing antibodies, survive and participate in immune responses within the body. I achieve this by using specially designed, genetically modified, mice that allow me to follow B lymphocytes within the body and identify their key genetic and external controls. My work is relevant to vaccine development as well as the control of certain autoimmune diseases and B lymphocyte cancers.
My research is aiming to study how the immune system controls viral infections in transplant patients and use this information to bolster their immunity in a test tube, providing protection against a virus the patient is unable to fight after their transplant. We are also trying to develop new strategies to use patient's own blood cells which will be grown in the laboratory and returned to the patient, resulting in a full recovery.
Control Of Pathogenic Antibody Responses In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
Deficient or inappropriate antibody responses are at the core of many autoimmune diseases, allergies, food intolerances, and often explain the failure of vaccination strategies. Specialised follicular T cells control the quality of antibodies produced by B cells. This fellowship will combine basic studies investigating B cell helper or regulatory follicular T cells in humans with genetic studies identifying the causes of autoantibody-driven diseases. The results will uncover targeted therapies.
The cell types of the blood, such as red and white blood cells, are produced in the bone marrow from a rare stem cell. The stem cell uses a handful of important master-regulatory genes that act in a hierarchy to promote the blood cell differentiation process. This research aims to understand how these master-regulators function in isolation and together in producing the white blood cells that are required for our immune response to microbes, vaccination and to prevent cancer.
I am an immunologist focusing on understanding how can we combat chronic infections while preventing autoimmunity. This proposal aims to investigate how a poorly understood subset of lymphocytes called Tfh cells are regulated to promote the formation of protective antibodies, and prevent development of harmful antibodies that go on to cause or exacerbate diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Our discoveries will illuminate novel drug targets for these diseases and hel ....I am an immunologist focusing on understanding how can we combat chronic infections while preventing autoimmunity. This proposal aims to investigate how a poorly understood subset of lymphocytes called Tfh cells are regulated to promote the formation of protective antibodies, and prevent development of harmful antibodies that go on to cause or exacerbate diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Our discoveries will illuminate novel drug targets for these diseases and help generate more potent vaccines.Read moreRead less
Defining The Cellular Interactions For Initiation And Maintenance Of Immunity To Intracellular Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$863,413.00
Summary
This immune system provides our body’s defense against invading organisms like viruses, preventing disease and maintaining health. Immunity involves the interaction of several different cell types that together form arsenals tailored to combat each different infection. Professor Heath will investigate how cells of the immune system orchestrate effective immune responses to viral infections and malaria. He will use this understanding to design novel approaches to vaccination.
Roles Of Signalling In The Control Of Immune System Development, Function And Pathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$737,936.00
Summary
This research focuses on the function of the NF-?B and MAP kinase biochemical pathways in immune cells. Both pathways regulate gene expression controlling the development, division, viability and function of immune cells. Consistent with these roles, impaired regulation of these pathways contributes to many immune related diseases. My goal is to utilize information learnt about these pathways and apply it to developing therapies for treating diseases afflicting the immune system.
Dissecting Human B-cell Function: From Primary Immunodeficiencies To Chronic Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Despite knowing a lot about immunity in a mice, functional analysis of the human immune system has been a major challenge. I will study defects of immune cells in humans with gene mutations that cause an antibody deficiency. With new insights from these unique clinical samples, I will functionally dissect human immune responses, directly translate these to chronic inflammatory disease, and provide implications for future vaccine development and cancer treatment.