Determining Regulators Of ILC3 In Mucosal Barrier Function And Immune Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$705,209.00
Summary
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are specialized cells that defend the body against invading microorganisms at the body’s surfaces, mediate pathogen clearance and tissue repair but may also drive inflammatory conditions such as allergic asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. We will investigate the molecular switches that regulate this novel cell type and potentially uncover novel molecules or pathways for therapeutic targets.
I am an immunologist, working to understand the function of NKT cells, and how these cells can be manipulated as a means of immune therapy for a range of immunologically related diseases.
Co-ordinating The Intrinsic And Extrinsic Arms Of Hematopoiesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$615,286.00
Summary
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 handfull 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.
The Transcriptional Control Of The Dendritic Cell Lineages
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$669,872.00
Summary
The immune system can discriminate between invading microorganisms and the body's own tissues. Dendritic cells are specialised to alert the immune system in the case of infection. In this project we aim to understand how dendritic cells are generated and how they function to control the immune response. We will achieve this aim by using state of the art genomic technologies to describe the genetic programme of dendritic cells. We hope that this knowledge will enable us to better harness the immu ....The immune system can discriminate between invading microorganisms and the body's own tissues. Dendritic cells are specialised to alert the immune system in the case of infection. In this project we aim to understand how dendritic cells are generated and how they function to control the immune response. We will achieve this aim by using state of the art genomic technologies to describe the genetic programme of dendritic cells. We hope that this knowledge will enable us to better harness the immune response in situations such as vaccination.Read moreRead less
Professor Godfrey is an immunologist with a long standing history as a pioneer in the study of a specialised type of white blood cell, known as NKT cells. NKT cells are activated in response to lipid-based molecules that are thought to alert the immune system, via NKT cell activation, to the presence of infectious agents or other abnormalities. A better understanding of how NKT cells function will provide new approaches to battling a broad range of diseases where these cells are implicated, incl ....Professor Godfrey is an immunologist with a long standing history as a pioneer in the study of a specialised type of white blood cell, known as NKT cells. NKT cells are activated in response to lipid-based molecules that are thought to alert the immune system, via NKT cell activation, to the presence of infectious agents or other abnormalities. A better understanding of how NKT cells function will provide new approaches to battling a broad range of diseases where these cells are implicated, including cancer, autoimmunity, allergy and infection.Read moreRead less
The Transcriptional Regulation Of Lymphocyte And Dendritic Cell Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,051.00
Summary
The distinct cell types of the blood, such as red and white blood cells, are produced in the bone marrow from a rare stem cell. An important characteristic of the stem cell is its ability to balance the need to proliferate and produce the distinct cell types (termed differentiation) and the need to maintain an adequate number of stem cells in their primitive state (termed self-renewal). The outcome of this balance is the production, throughout life, of an astounding number of cells that are requ ....The distinct cell types of the blood, such as red and white blood cells, are produced in the bone marrow from a rare stem cell. An important characteristic of the stem cell is its ability to balance the need to proliferate and produce the distinct cell types (termed differentiation) and the need to maintain an adequate number of stem cells in their primitive state (termed self-renewal). The outcome of this balance is the production, throughout life, of an astounding number of cells that are required to replace those lost each day. This feat is controlled by a handful of important master-regulatory genes that act in a hierarchy to promote the differentiation process. This tightly controlled and multi-step regulation is essential, as failure to coordinate blood cell production is the underlying cause of many blood cell cancers such as leukaemia as well as immune deficiency and anaemia. 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.Read moreRead less
Induction Of Natural T-Regulatory Cells By Thymic Dendritic Cell Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,775.00
Summary
In this study, we will determine the roles of the antigen presenting cells, namely denderitic cells, in the induction of T-regulatory cell (T-reg) developemnt in the thymus. T-reg cells play important roles in controlling the development of autoimmunity. This study will help to understand the possible causes of autoimmune diseases and to develop new treatments for these diseases.