Targeting Host Pathogen Interactions And Signalling Networks To Promote Death Of Infected Cells And Facilitate Pathogen Clearance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Preclinical models of infectious diseases including hepatitis B, HIV, tuberculosis and human herpes virus infections will be used to understand how pathogens interact with host cells. With this understanding we aim to identify which host cell signalling pathways play a critical role in limiting or faciliating pathogen persistence. After identifying the important cellular pathways we aim to target these host cell signalling components with clinical stage drugs to promote pathogen clearance.
Innovative Approaches To Reducing The Impact Of Blood Borne Viruses And Sexually Transmitted Infections On Young People.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$246,859.00
Summary
Over the next 5 years I will undertake a program of research centred on reducing the impact of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in vulnerable populations, particularly young people. I will study how these infections are transmitted, associated risk behaviours including drug and alcohol use and sexual risk, and develop interventions to improve the detection and management of infected individuals.
Towards HIV And Hepatitis C Elimination: Real-world Trials And Innovations In Disease Surveillance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Over the next five years I will undertake a program of research centred on developing and implementing strategies to help eliminate hepatitis C and HIV as major public health problems. In particular, I will use innovative monitoring systems and field trials to explore ways to diagnose and treat HIV and hepatitis C in vulnerable populations in a more timely way and study the influence this has on reducing the onward transmission of these infections to others.
Preventing Infectious Disease In Vulnerable Populations: Smarter Surveillance, Enhanced Epidemiology And Targeted Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
Vulnerable populations, including people who inject drugs and female sex workers, are susceptible to infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. Preventing the transmission of these infections presents major challenges. The proposed research will 1) develop innovative approaches to identifying and understanding infectious disease in vulnerable populations; 2) improve our responses by designing and testing new approaches to prevention; and 3) reduce associated morbidity and mortality.
I am a virologist working on hepatitis C virus with projects to investigate antiviral agents, vaccine technology, aspects of HCV immunity and treatment by immunotherapy.
‘Breaking The Cycle’ Of Crime - Improved Health And Justice Outcomes For Offenders Through Effective Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$838,845.00
Summary
Offender population ensure some of the worst health outcomes in the community and impose a significant burden on society. Addressing their health and criminogenic needs through effective interventions not only improves individual outcomes but has profound financial and societal benefits. This fellowship will focus on developing effective interventions in the areas of infectious diseases, mental health and violence, including domestic and family violence.
New Insights Into Viral Inflammatory Disease Mechanisms And Approaches To Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
This fellowship aims to establish how viruses cause disease, including how they evade the immune response to persist and cause disease for prolonged periods. My vision is that knowing how the virus and the immune system interact to determine disease severity will assist in devising new treatments and prevention programs to lessen the impact of viral diseases in Australia and worldwide.
Dissecting Human B-cell Function: From Primary Immunodeficiencies To Chronic Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
Despite knowing a lot about immunity in a mice, functional analysis of the human immune system has been a major challenge. I will study defects of immune cells in humans with gene mutations that cause an antibody deficiency. With new insights from these unique clinical samples, I will functionally dissect human immune responses, directly translate these to chronic inflammatory disease, and provide implications for future vaccine development and cancer treatment.
Nuclear Transport In Health And Disease; Towards Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,980.00
Summary
This research fellowship will enable new therapeutic approaches to viral disease and cancer that target the transport process. I have already licenced an inhibitory molecule for Dengue virus which is progressing towards the clinic. I will now extend my research into a vibrant translational program of developing anti-viral (HIV, Respiratory Syncytical Virus, VEEV) as well as anti-cancer agents that will represent realistic therapeutic options in the near future.
Understanding the immune response is proving extremely complex and promising results for disease treatments from animal models are often difficult to translate to new clinical therapies. My research is unearthing weaknesses in our current knowledge of the immune system and seeking to replace them with a foundation that can exploit new developments in computer modelling and systems biology. In this way I aim to rationally manipulate the immune response.