Understanding Immunosuppressive Pathways In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,178.00
Summary
Cancer-induced immune suppression is a major obstacle to the effective treatment of many cancers. Suppression can be mediated by cells of the immune system, or cancers themselves. My project aims to investigate 3 suppressive pathways and determine their hierarchy in different mouse models of cancer using mouse genetics and antibody-based treatment approaches. Understanding these processes ongoing in the cancer environment will allow the design of more effective cancer therapies.
Understanding And Modulating The Human Immune System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
T cells are the sentinels of our immune system continually scanning our tissue for abnormalities and eliminating threats in many forms. They are our second and last line of defence against microorganisms and cancer. Unfortunately, T cells can also cause harm through accidental crossreactvity or overzealous function. My work is directed at understanding how T cells work and how they can be controlled using drugs and gene therapy. If we can ‘tune’ the power of this master immune lineage we can unl
Understanding The Mechanisms Of Action Of The ISCOMATRIX Adjuvant For The Development Of Human Vaccines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
CSL Limited, an Australian owned global biopharmaceutical company, is developing the ISCOMATRIX (IMX) adjuvant for vaccines to prevent and treat serious human disease of global concern (e.g. cancer, pandemic flu, HPV, HCV). This study will identify the mechanisms of action of IMX in generating strong cellular immunity, how to enhance it further by combining with other immuno-modulators so as to develop novel IMX vaccines for the treatment of established cancer and persistent viral infections.
Investigating CD4+ T Helper Cell Differentiation During Blood-stage Plasmodium Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Some infections tend to afflict us only once, e.g. chickenpox, because our bodies develop immunity to these microbes relatively easily. In contrast, it takes many infections to develop immunity to the malaria parasite, because our immune systems seem to respond inefficiently to it. My work will improve our understanding of how the immune system is poorly activated during malaria, and may provide new ideas for boosting the immune system in response to malaria or indeed other infections.
Vaccine Discovery For Human Mucosal Pathogens: Identifying Novel Vaccine Antigens That Are Stably Expressed During Host Interactions, Using Analysis Of Cell-contact And Phasevarion Mediated Expression Profiles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,482.00
Summary
The control of several human pathogens depends on vaccine development due to antibiotic resistance and the devastating outcome of infection. This work aims to identify new vaccine targets for diseases including gonorrhoae, ear infections, meningitis and sepsis, based on proteins required for interaction with human cells. Proteins that are randomly switched on and off in these bacteria will also be studied to better understand disease and to rule out variably expressed genes from new vaccines.
Defining The Role Of Plasminogen Activation In Group A Streptococcal Invasive Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,763.00
Summary
The "flesh-eating" bacteria group A streptococcus (GAS) causes life threatening invasive diseases such as necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome (>600,000 cases and 163,000 deaths per year). For some types of GAS, plasminogen binding is essential for virulence.The aim of this work is to determine the extent to which plasminogen binding contributes to disease caused by highly virulent GAS. These studies will allow the development of new therapeutics and treatments.
Understanding Respiratory Infections To Improve Vaccines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$268,497.00
Summary
Indigenous children have the highest rates of ear disease (OM) and associated hearing loss in the world. Papua New Guinea has the highest child mortality rates in the Western Pacific Region with 23% of deaths from pneumonia. OM and pneumonia vaccines can be improved through broadening their coverage of disease-causing pathogens. This study will identify the pathogens that currently cause OM in Indigenous children and pneumonia in PNG, and will measure the immune responses to these pathogens, in ....Indigenous children have the highest rates of ear disease (OM) and associated hearing loss in the world. Papua New Guinea has the highest child mortality rates in the Western Pacific Region with 23% of deaths from pneumonia. OM and pneumonia vaccines can be improved through broadening their coverage of disease-causing pathogens. This study will identify the pathogens that currently cause OM in Indigenous children and pneumonia in PNG, and will measure the immune responses to these pathogens, in order to develop improved vaccines.Read moreRead less