Identification And Targeting Of A Potent NK Cell “checkpoint” In Tumour Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
Cancer must evade detection by the immune system in order to develop. Natural Killer (NK) cells can detect and kill cancer cells. We have discovered a potent "checkpoint" in the NK cell activation pathway that desensitizes NK cells to growth factors and switches off their activation and killer function. When this checkpoint is inhibited, NK cells become hyper-activated and prevent most types of cancer metastasis in mice. Targeting this checkpoint in humans could revolutionise cancer therapy
Anaphylaxis: Pathophysiology, Acute Management, Diagnosis And Immunotherapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,558.00
Summary
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. This award will support research projects that aim to improve both the emergency care of this condition and subsequent immunotherapy (desensitisation) for people who experience anaphylaxis to insect sting. It will also support research to better understand anaphylaxis to antivenoms, which is a major problem worldwide, and to thus improve the treatment of snake, scorpion and spider envenoming.
Tolerance Induction By Antigen-presenting Cell-targeted Antigen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,872.00
Summary
We have found that by ‘targeting’ antigen to the cells that ‘train’ the immune system we have been able to prevent the development of autoimmune disease. In the research proposed here we aim to develop new ways in which antigens can be targeted to these cells so that this approach can be applied clinically. The proposed studies will also determine how antigens targeted in this way restore self-tolerance and prevent autoimmune disease.
Human Dendritic Cell Subsets And Their Application For Immunotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,946.00
Summary
Immunotherapy is a promising non-toxic strategy for the treatment of many cancers, viruses and other diseases. It works by teaching the patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy the cancer. Specialized blood cells called dendritic cells are essential to this process but they are poorly understood in humans. I aim to investigate the function these cells and use this information to develop new treatments for cancer and viruses.
Immune Balance-regulating Interleukins As Targets For Immunotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
The immune balance is crucial to human health. Interleukins are a group of proteins secreted by immune cells to mediate their communication. They tune up or down immune responses, thus as attractive targets for immunotherapy to restore the immune balance to treat autoimmune diseases, allergies and infections. This fellowship will support translational research to develop Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-21-based novel immunotherapies for autoimmune disease, infection and allergy.
Enhanced Translation Of Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Protein, EBNA1, As A Target Fot T Cell-based Immunotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,558.00
Summary
Epstein-Barr virus, (EBV) is a human herpesvirus associated with a range of human cancers. EBNA1, an important EBV antigen, was thought to be “immunologically silent” however, recent studies from our laboratory show that EBNA1 is recognized by our body's defence system and these observations raise the possibility that EBNA1 may be an exploitable, immuno-therapy target for treating EBV-associated cancers.
Exploring And Exploiting Novel Therapeutic Avenues In Mesothelioma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer of the lungs. It rapidly grows and invades surrounding tissues such as the ribcage, causing severe shortness of breath and pain. Chemotherapy has limited effect and although immunotherapy appears promising, most patients do not respond. I will investigate why mesothelioma is so invasive; how to improve the response to immunotherapy and how to best combine chemotherapy and immunotherapy. I aim to develop new treatments that will benefit patients with mesothelioma.
Tumour-on-a-chip Models For Ex-vivo Profiling Of Immune Checkpoint Blockades
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
The overall goal of this project is to build novel 3D biochips to culture primary human tumors with their immune cells, and to investigate patient specific responses to immune checkpoint blockade ex-vivo. Since there are currently no validated methodologies to study immunotherapy response in patient-derived cancer specimens, this proposal has the potential to provide a state-of-the art technology for the ‘personalization’ of immunotherapy.
Development Of Cancer Immunotherapy Using Gene-engineered T Cells In A Self-antigen Mouse Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,602.00
Summary
Killer T lymphocytes can penetrate tumours and their transfer into cancer patients has demonstrated some encouraging results, but this form of therapy and other approaches including vaccination remain ineffective in most cancer patients. In this project, we propose to improve the tumour trafficking and anti-tumour activities of killer cells by genetically engineering them with proteins that will enable them to recognise and destroy cancer cells.