Immunobilogy Of Human Herpesviruses: From Bench To Bedside
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$926,980.00
Summary
This Fellowship application is aiming to translate our newly emerging knowledge on immune regulation of human herpesviruses and associated diseases from bench to bedside. We are aiming develop new platform technologies which will allow us to test novel immunotherapeutic strategies to treat herpesvirus-associated diseases.
T cells play a pivotal role in the immune system by recognising viral peptides presented by "HLA" molecules on infected cells through the use of T cell receptors (TCRs). I will investigate the variables that influence T lymphocyte recognition of human herpesvirus infection, including variability in TCR, HLA, and viral genes. Understanding the impact of these variables on how we fight infections will aid in the development of new "intelligent" vaccines and immune-based therapies.
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.
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.
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.
This project involves a unique interdisciplinary approach combining bioinformatics, biostatistics and mathematical biology to better understand the dynamics of infection and immunity. Using data from in vitro studies, animal models, and human infections, I aim to understand immune control and pathogen growth and evolution in HIV and malaria infection.
Enhancing Disease Vector Biosecurity Through High Density Molecular Markers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
The outbreak of several diseases spread by mosquitoes is increasing rapidly around the world, driven by increased people movement spreading both viruses and disease vectors, a lack of effective vaccines and changing climatic conditions. In this proposal I aim to develop cutting edge molecular tools for identifying pathways of exotic mosquito introductions into Australia and a program that uses bacteria living inside mosquitoes in novel ways for disease suppression.
This fellowship is to support Professor Stephen Kent in generating new advances in vaccines to prevent HIV (the cause of AIDS) and Influenza (“The Flu”). HIV causes over 1.5 million deaths per year and no vaccine is currently available. Influenza causes around half a million deaths per year. Although the current Influenza vaccine is partially effective, improvements are needed for it to be able to protect against the many different strains of Influenza that can cause infection.
Regulation Of Nucleocytoplasmic Transport; Role In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$823,008.00
Summary
Transport into and out of the nucleus is central to the function of the cells from complex organisms such as mammals. This research program aims to improve understanding of nuclear transport and its regulation in the context of infection by medically relevant viruses, as well as in the context of cancer, and normal cell growth/development. It will contribute to developing new anti-viral therapeutics/vaccines, drug delivery strategies for cancer, and understanding causes of male infertility.