The Role Of Cross-reactive T Cells In Severe Lung Disease Following Viral Respiratory Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,003,390.00
Summary
Why do some patients clinically deteriorate at a greater rate than others during acute respiratory viral infections despite similar or identical clinical management? One explanation is the reactivation immunity towards ubiquitous viruses that then go on to cross-react against the new respiratory pathogen leading to an overly aggressive and destructive response in the lung. We will examine this potential of existing anti-viral immune responses to exacerbate disease in lung transplantation, as suc
I am a practising hospital physician and a trained scientist and am widely acknowledged at the world leader in my field of study, asbestos cancers. Our latest research discoveries have put us on the threshold of bold new approaches to curing the scourge of these cancers and finding better blood tests but this work now requires extra attention from me to bring it to fruition. A Practitioner Fellowship is an ideal way for me to continue to lead this exciting research.
Compartmental Analysis Of T-cell Responses In Thoracic Malignancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,403.00
Summary
To improve immune therapy for cancer we have to be able to determine how cancer patients ‘see’ mutated cancer proteins. Blood is the easiest & most useful source of immune ‘killer’ cells for that task, but the lymph node that drains the tumour and the fluid that bathes a tumour probably contain a much higher number of these killer cells than blood. If so, studying them would help us better track responses to therapy and enable us to choose the best mutated proteins for a vaccine.
Clinical Implications Of Trans-kingdom Microbial Interactions In The Transplanted Lung
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,909.00
Summary
Lung transplantation is a critical requirement for people with severe lung diseases. The lung is constantly exposed to bugs and viruses, which reside in the airways, and can be both beneficial or detrimental for lung health. This interaction between the immune system and these bugs can influence the health and longevity of the lung transplant. We aim to discover how we could target these interactions to improve the long-term success of lung transplantation.
Transcriptional Regulation Of T Lymphocyte And Dendritic Cell Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,096.00
Summary
Differentation of lymphocytes is a fundamental process in protection against disease . A small number of proteins critically regulate the decisions the cells make in becoming effective antigen presenting cells (that stimulate other immune cells), effector cells (that kill pathogen infected cells) or memory cells (that are essential for protection against secondary infections). Understanding this process and its regulation is critical to therapeutic treatment of autoimmune and infectious disease.
Characterisation Of A Novel Signaling Network That Translates Early-life Respiratory Infection Into Chronic Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
Bacterial and viral respiratory infections in early-life cause permanent damage to the lungs and reduce lung function in later life. They may also increase the risk of developing asthma and emphysema. These are substantial health problems in Australia. My project aims to identify how infections cause these effects. This will enable me to identify new therapeutic targets and develop new therapies for the prevention of chronic lung diseases.
Regulation Of Pulmonary Immune Responses To Subunit Vaccines Against Tuberculosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,202.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) remains an enormous health problem world-wide. Improving the effectiveness of anti-TB vaccines is essential for its control. The first approach to improving subunit TB vaccines will be to manipulate the cellular immune response to the vaccine by increasing the positive cytokine signals, or reducing inhibitory effects on the immune response. The second approach is to develop new subunit vaccines to deliver to the lung in order to increase the potency of the protective response.
Cross-reactive Anti-viral T Cells Mediate Allograft Rejection In Lung Transplantation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$379,563.00
Summary
In solid organ transplantation chronic viral infections can play a major role in causing graft dysfunction and-or loss. This study investigates the role of a specific population of immunological cells. These specific anti-viral immune cells are key controllers of viral infections and have also been implicated in mediating the destruction and-or rejection of a transplanted graft.
The Role Of Long Non-coding RNA In Regulating Lung Immunity And Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Chronic inflammatory diseases of the lung, asthma and COPD, account for significant morbidity and poor quality of life in our community. Respiratory infection is one of the major causes of exacerbation and affects 50-80% of both asthma and COPD patients admitted to hospital. These groups of patients are steroid resistance and difficult to manage. Our aim is to identify novel molecules important in regulating inflammation and to target them therapeutically to treat these patients.