The Structure And Composition Of The T-Cell Receptor-CD3 Complex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
My research will use cutting edge imaging techniques to provide a fundamental advance in our understanding of how foreign viruses and pathogens trigger the immune system. Gaining a greater understanding of these central events will facilitate the design of novel therapies to treat immune associated disorders such as transplant rejection, autoimmune disease and some cancers.
Understanding Immunosuppressive Pathways In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,178.00
Summary
Cancer-induced immune suppression is a major obstacle to the effective treatment of many cancers. Suppression can be mediated by cells of the immune system, or cancers themselves. My project aims to investigate 3 suppressive pathways and determine their hierarchy in different mouse models of cancer using mouse genetics and antibody-based treatment approaches. Understanding these processes ongoing in the cancer environment will allow the design of more effective cancer therapies.
The Role Of Non-classical MHC Class I Molecules In Adaptive Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,834.00
Summary
Specialised proteins called MHC class Ia molecules (MHC-Ia) stimulate killer T cells to lyse virus infected cells. In contrast, the function of the closely related MHC-Ib is uncertain. Recent findings have demonstrated that MHC-Ib can also be recognised by T cells and this interaction is important in the control of viral infections. However, despite the similarity to MHC-Ia, it is unclear how this interaction occurs. This project aims to investigate how killer T cells recognise MHC-Ib molecules.
Diet And Mental Health: Translating New Knowledge Into Innovative Prevention And Treatment Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
I have pioneered the development of a robust body of evidence demonstrating the important role of diet in mental health and I am now recognised internationally as a research leader in this new field. The next important step is to translate this knowledge into new prevention and treatment strategies in order to address the substantial global burden of illness attributable to mental disorders.
Systems Immunology Of Antigen Specific T Cells: From Single-cell To Immune Protection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
T cells are key for establishment of immune protection and object of ongoing research in vaccines and more recently immunotherapy against infections and some cancers. Their dynamics are complex and many mechanisms remain unknown that could be exploited for modern therapies. Here, in a systems approach I will combined single cell technologies, immunology and computational biology to identify the factors that determine the establishment of long term memory cells utilising a unique set of samples.
Assembly Of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Complexes And Their Defects Associated With Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,431.00
Summary
Mitochondrial “respiratory chain complexes are multi-subunit assemblies that function to produce most of our cellular energy. Defects in the assembly of these complexes can result in mitochondrial disease, including infant death. The assembly of the respiratory complexes is a complicated procedure and the mechanisms involved in disease remain elusive. This work will aid in our understanding of how these protein complexes are built and how defects in their assembly can cause disease.
Understanding And Modulating The Human Immune System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
T cells are the sentinels of our immune system continually scanning our tissue for abnormalities and eliminating threats in many forms. They are our second and last line of defence against microorganisms and cancer. Unfortunately, T cells can also cause harm through accidental crossreactvity or overzealous function. My work is directed at understanding how T cells work and how they can be controlled using drugs and gene therapy. If we can ‘tune’ the power of this master immune lineage we can unl
Asthma Genetics: Dissecting The Missing Heritability And Biology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$451,716.00
Summary
The goal of this application is to apply state-of-the-art technologies to (1) identify genes that increase the risk of developing asthma and (2) help translate this information into knowledge that can be used to improve disease management. I will achieve this by analysing data generated by the Australian Asthma Genetics Consortium and international collaborators.
Dissecting Genetic Variation For Human Complex Diseases And Traits
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,821.00
Summary
Understanding the pattern of inheritance for human common diseases such as cancers, obesity, diabetes and mental illness, is of key importance for disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. In this project, we will develop statistical methods and software tools to analyse DNA and clinical data to better understand the genetic basis of human common diseases and to predict a person�s risk of developing disease.