Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the industrialized world. While therapies to treat cancer have continued to improve one area that, in theory at least, shows great promise in the treatment of tumours is manipulating the immune system to effectively recognize and destroy cancerous lesions. Experiments in human and animal systems have clearly shown that the immune system has the potential to respond to tumour cells and trials of tumour vaccines are underway. It has recently become a ....Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the industrialized world. While therapies to treat cancer have continued to improve one area that, in theory at least, shows great promise in the treatment of tumours is manipulating the immune system to effectively recognize and destroy cancerous lesions. Experiments in human and animal systems have clearly shown that the immune system has the potential to respond to tumour cells and trials of tumour vaccines are underway. It has recently become apparent that the immune responses to tumours may be inhibited by classes of regulatory immune cells. Eliminating these cells results in a more vigorous and effective anti-tumour response. This project will seek to discover the mechanisms of action of theses regulatory immune cells in order to devise more effective anti-cancer vaccines and therapies.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Linked Cytokines In T Helper Cell Differentiation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,504.00
Summary
An important class of T cells known as T Follicular Helper cells (TFH) orchestrate the immune response so that we can produce antibodies to fight infection. The novel finding that our Lab made last year is that the molecule interleukin 21 (IL-21) is a growth factor for TFH. The findings we have made thus far could be used in a number of ways. For eg, IL-21could be used to expand numbers of TFH, using them to boost vaccination or natural defences against viruses, bacteria and tumour cells.
Genetic Pathology Of Roquin In Human Autoimmune Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,466.00
Summary
Lupus is a life-threatening disease in which immune responses normally targeted at germs are directed at tissue in the body. We have discovered a mouse model of lupus and elucidated an important pathway that determines whether immunity is directed at the body or at germs. Building on recent progress in understanding the genetic variation between individuals, we will use the information obtained from the mouse model to investigate the genes that regulate this pathway in people with lupus.