Evolution Of Adaptive Immunity To Gluten In Coeliac Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,034.00
Summary
Coeliac disease affects 1 in 100 Australians and can cause significant health problems. Under-diagnosis and a difficult, costly treatment (lifelong gluten free diet) are serious clinical issues. The feasibility of simpler diagnostics and therapies in children and adults for coeliac disease depends on whether children and adults react in the same way to gluten. This proposal seeks to determine whether the immune response to gluten changes over time and establish the feasibility of peptide-based a ....Coeliac disease affects 1 in 100 Australians and can cause significant health problems. Under-diagnosis and a difficult, costly treatment (lifelong gluten free diet) are serious clinical issues. The feasibility of simpler diagnostics and therapies in children and adults for coeliac disease depends on whether children and adults react in the same way to gluten. This proposal seeks to determine whether the immune response to gluten changes over time and establish the feasibility of peptide-based applications.Read moreRead less
Phase I/IIa Trials Of A Novel T-cell Epitope-based Peptide Therapy For Peanut Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,440,000.00
Summary
Peanut allergy affects ~2% of the population and is the major cause of food triggered deaths from anaphylaxis. Typically peanut allergy is lifelong. Currently there is no specific treatment. Our vast experience in immunology for house dust mite and grass immunotherapy allowed us to identify critical components of peanut proteins needed as a safe vaccine to build tolerance to peanut foods. Now we will progress this novel and revolutionary vaccine through early phase clinical trials.
Analysis Of Antigen Processing In Melanoma Cells, Its Influence On The Success Of Cancer Vaccination And Enhancement In A Combined-immunotherapy Xenograft Model Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$297,891.00
Summary
Cancer vaccines, an exciting new treatment option that aims to boost a patientÍs own immune system to fight a growing cancer, have shown great promise in developmental studies. Although these vaccines generate strong anti-cancer responses in the blood of treated patients, less than expected results have been observed in terms of increased patient survival. This project aims to understand how the cancer escapes recognition by the immune system and ways to enhance the effects of cancer vaccines.
The Molecular Basis Of Human CD4+ T-cell Responses In Autoimmune Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$656,498.00
Summary
Over 120,000 Australians currently suffer from type 1 diabetes. This incurable disease typically strikes in childhood or adolescence and is caused by the immune system destroying the cells which make insulin. This project aims to determine how and why the insulin producing cells are recognized by the immune system. Eventually this work will lead to new vacccines to prevent the immune system from destroying the insulin producing cells.
The Impact Of Micropolymorphism Within The T Cell Receptor Genes And Their Target Antigenic Peptides
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,126.00
Summary
T lymphocytes play a pivotal role in the immune system by recognising virus-infected tissue through the use of highly specific T cell receptors (TCRs). This project will investigate the importance of genetic variation in the TCR genes in influencing how we fight infections. Another aim is to examine how the immune system tolerates genetic variation in an infecting virus. Advances in these areas will aid in the development of new "intelligent" vaccines.