Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a major chronic disease affecting over 100,000 Australians. Its treatment and complications impose a significant burden on affected individuals and their families and on the health system. T1D occurs when the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the islet cells of the pancreas. The team has developed ways to identify at-risk people, defined immune and genetic causes of T1D and is undertaking prevention trials and Australia's first islet transplant program. Th ....Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a major chronic disease affecting over 100,000 Australians. Its treatment and complications impose a significant burden on affected individuals and their families and on the health system. T1D occurs when the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the islet cells of the pancreas. The team has developed ways to identify at-risk people, defined immune and genetic causes of T1D and is undertaking prevention trials and Australia's first islet transplant program. Their multidisciplinary research is taking us closer to the prevention and cure of T1D.Read moreRead less
Innovative Stem Cell-based Strategies To Establish Immune Tolerance And Tissue Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,554,618.00
Summary
Diseases such as autoimmune gastritis, multiple sclerosis and diabetes arise because a rogue immune system has turned inwards to attack our organs. The organ destruction follows from recognition by the immune system of specific molecules in these organs. These autoimmune diseases are incurable and controlled mainly by long-term administration of substances that suppress the immune system, often with serious side-effects. A rational approach is to render the rogue immune system harmless by removi ....Diseases such as autoimmune gastritis, multiple sclerosis and diabetes arise because a rogue immune system has turned inwards to attack our organs. The organ destruction follows from recognition by the immune system of specific molecules in these organs. These autoimmune diseases are incurable and controlled mainly by long-term administration of substances that suppress the immune system, often with serious side-effects. A rational approach is to render the rogue immune system harmless by removing the cells that recognize these particular molecules. This can be achieved by a Trojan horse approach in which the molecules are delivered to the immune system such that that the immune cells that recognize them are removed. To deliver these molecules to the immune system we will genetically engineer bone marrow stem cells, or embryonic stem cells that generate these stem cells, because they are precursors of mature immune cells. Rejection of organ transplants arise in a similar way and also require long-term immunosuppression. A similar approach can therefore be taken to promote acceptance of foreign organ grafts. In the aged, we will combine these approaches with rejuvenation of the immune system by blockade of sex steroid production and-or by creation of a new immune organ.Read moreRead less
Molecular And Cellular Studies Of The Adaptive Immune Response In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$16,509,154.00
Summary
Immune responses protect us against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. However inappropriate immune responses can result in autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythmatosus, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, asthma as well as immunodeficiencies. The aim of our proposal is to gain a thorough understanding of how all the cells of the immune system function and interact with each other, and what goes wrong when inflammatory diseases develop. We plan to do this using state-of-of-the ....Immune responses protect us against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. However inappropriate immune responses can result in autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythmatosus, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, asthma as well as immunodeficiencies. The aim of our proposal is to gain a thorough understanding of how all the cells of the immune system function and interact with each other, and what goes wrong when inflammatory diseases develop. We plan to do this using state-of-of-the-art technologies, including genetically modified mice, gene microarrays, monoclonal antibodies, and flow cytometry. We have brought together Australia's leading immunologists with complimentary expertise and research interests in specific areas of immunology including cytokines, cell migration, inflammatory diseases, autoimmunity and cell-cell interactions. One aspect of the application is to understand the genetic and molecular basis of immunological diseases. However we also wish to move on from an understanding to treatment of immunological diseases through the development of novel therapeutics. We will form collaborations with biotech and pharmaceutical companies (including our own spin off companies) to advance important new therapeutics for autoimmune and allergic diseases. These conditions represent a significant health burden to Australia.Read moreRead less