Research Fellowship: Immunoregulation And Immunity To Viral Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
Award of this fellowship will ensure the continuation of a highly productive research program that over the last 15 years has made numerous seminal contributions to understanding the immune responses generated during viral infection. This multidisciplinary, highly collaborative program seeks to use this knowledge to develop effective therapies, both cellular and gene therapy-based, to treat viral infections and their complications by harnessing the immune system.
Effective Therapies To Treat Viral Infections And Their Complications In Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,100,450.00
Summary
Viral infections are a common life threatening complication in transplant recipients, for which there are limited treatment options. We have developed several pre-clinical models that we are using to determine how the treatment of viral infections that occur after transplantation can be improved.
Immunoregulation, Innate And Adaptive Immunity, Viral Immunology, Ocular Immunology, Immunotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$880,454.00
Summary
The focus on our research is to understand how the immune system responds to viral challenges and how viruses attempt to counteract immune responses. We focus on systemic disease, as well as disease that involve the eye. Understanding how immune responses are regulated will allows us to develop improved therapies
Understanding The Key Attributes Of CD8 T Cell Receptor Transfer As An Antiviral Strategy And Harnessing The Process To Combat Persistent Viral Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,885.00
Summary
We have recently discovered a new process through which the numbers of antiviral immune cells can rapidly expand, without dividing, to combat a virus infection that may otherwise be fatal. This represents a significant advance in our knowledge on how a speedy, virus-specific response can be mounted. We will study how this process can be applied to therapeutic strategies to overcome medically significant persistent viral infections.
The development of better ways to prevent and treat influenza infection will be a major step forward in lessening the impact of the virus in communities worldwide. We have assembled a research team of seven groups who will determine the ways in which the effects of influenza can be mitigated through an understanding of the factors which lead to severe disease, and how these can be lessened by novel vaccination and treatment strategies.
Understanding The Role Of CD4 T Cells In Viral Infection: A Means Of Improving Anti-viral Immunotherapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$672,009.00
Summary
Development of therapies to prevent and treat chronic infections is of the highest priority as they cause considerable clinical challenges and on-going health care costs. Efforts to improve treatment of chronic viral infections, such as those caused by HIV, hepatitis C virus and human cytomegalovirus, require a better understanding of the immune responses needed to control these viruses long-term. This proposal will investigate the role of CD4+ T cells in controlling chronic viral infection.
Delineation Of The Role Of RasGRP4 In Mast Cell Growth, Differentiation And Activation, Using RasGRP4 Deficient Mice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,199.00
Summary
Mast cells are important in immunity. Mast cells have been implicated in asthma and more recently they have been shown to participate in immunity against bacteria, viruses and fungi. We have identified a specific protein, RasGRP4, which is restricted to mast cells and plays an important role in their development and function. Understanding this molecule more extensively will give us a much better understanding of diseases that the mast cell is involved in such as asthma and other disorders.
Immune responses to pathogens are generated in lymphoid tissues that are innervated by the sympathetic nervous system, which functions during times of stress or infection. Very little is known about the impact of the sympathetic nervous system on immune cell functions during responses to pathogens. This project will test the hypothesis that nervous signals can influence lymphocyte behaviour and that pharmaceutical intervention could augment immunity to infections.
Mapping The Molecular Blueprint For Immune Cell Differentitation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$753,300.00
Summary
Killer T cells are white blood cells that are key for helping control virus infections and in the recognition and elimination of cells that have become cancerous. This proposal aims to identify novel molecular mechanisms that control the ability of killer T cells to mediate their antiviral and anti-cancer functions. This will provide molecular targets for possible clinical interventions designed to either promote immunity (vaccination) or limit damage caused by T cell responses that target self
Development Of Innovative Approaches To Manage Insect-transmitted Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,435,142.00
Summary
This program grant focuses on the development of new methods to control mosquito-borne diseases, including those caused by dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and chikungunya viruses. We are investigating whether the introduction of Wolbachia micro-organisms into mosquitoes can be used to selectively eliminate old mosquitoes and reduce transmission of human pathogens. We will also determine whether Wolbachia have any non-lethal affects on mosquito behaviours such as dispersal and biting activity whic ....This program grant focuses on the development of new methods to control mosquito-borne diseases, including those caused by dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and chikungunya viruses. We are investigating whether the introduction of Wolbachia micro-organisms into mosquitoes can be used to selectively eliminate old mosquitoes and reduce transmission of human pathogens. We will also determine whether Wolbachia have any non-lethal affects on mosquito behaviours such as dispersal and biting activity which determine the level of contact between mosquitoes and humans.Read moreRead less