Dengue Host-cell Signalling Interactions: Novel Insights And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Dengue is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes that occurs in many tropical and subtropical regions. Approximately 40% of the world's population is at risk of this infection. Sometimes it can be mild but it can lead to severe illness and death especially with second infections. The body produces a response that over-reacts to the virus in these severe infections. The project aims to understand why the body does this and what parts of the immune system are affected using a model in mice.
Transcriptional Control Of Peripheral T Cell Differentiation During Pathogen Infection And Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,314.00
Summary
White blood cells, specifically helper and killer T cells, play an important role in fighting infection. They are tightly regulated and if not properly controlled can lead to aggressive autoimmune diseases such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis. My studies will elucidate the mechanisms behind the regulation of T cells at steady-state and during disease. Insights gained from this project will have implications for the design of new approaches to combat infectious and autoimmune diseases.
Investigating The Function Of Natural Killer Cells During Immunological Responses Following Human Lung Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$71,766.00
Summary
The immune system is critical in controlling common viral infections in healthy individuals. When transplanting foreign solid organs into patients with end-stage lung disease the immune systemÍs activity is decreased via the immunosuppressive drugs to enable graft acceptance. In some patients the immune response can detect similarities between previously encountered viruses and the foreign organ, leading to life-threatening health problems through either rejection episodes and/or graft loss.
Investigation Of Regulators That Control The Pro-survival Molecule MCL1 And Its Stabililty In Lymphoma And Myeloma Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$169,162.00
Summary
B cell malignancies are common and in many cases result in mortality. The BCL-2 family protein MCL-1 has been shown to be over-expressed in many B cell malignancies. However, the regulation and biology of MCL-1 in these cancers remains largely unknown. We aim to define mechanisms that control regulation of MCL-1 expression in cancer cells at the transcriptional and protein level and hence identify new therapeutic targets.
Parasitic and viral infections involving the retina are serious eye conditions that are poorly understood and lack effective treatments. My PhD studies will focus on how human retinal cells fight infections caused by the Toxoplasma parasite, and dengue and Ebola viruses. The results of my investigations will inform the development of better treatments for these blinding eye diseases.
Characterisation Of Autoreactive T Cells In Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria Would Improve Its Diagnosis And Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$97,182.00
Summary
Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a disease in which itchy hives recur due to no apparent trigger. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system reacts against certain cells in the skin, called mast cells and basophils. It is unclear how this occurs. Once activated, mast cells and basophils release a chemical called histamine, which is responsible for the rash. I aim to identify the immune reactions that occur in CIU, develop reliable tests for diagnosis and improve treatment of CIU ....Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a disease in which itchy hives recur due to no apparent trigger. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system reacts against certain cells in the skin, called mast cells and basophils. It is unclear how this occurs. Once activated, mast cells and basophils release a chemical called histamine, which is responsible for the rash. I aim to identify the immune reactions that occur in CIU, develop reliable tests for diagnosis and improve treatment of CIU.Read moreRead less
The Regulation Of Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells (moDCs) During Allograft Rejection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,218.00
Summary
Islet transplantation can cure type 1 diabetes, but the required drugs for immunosuppressing graft rejection have side effects. Therefore understanding how immune rejection occurs so that we can suppress in a more discreet selective way is our goal. A type of cell that is prominent during graft rejection is the monocyte derived dendritic cell. We propose that this cell is critical for orchestrating immune responses during rejection. Therefore we wish to determine how such cells are controlled.
The Role Of Mucosal-associated Invariant T (MAIT) Cells And Gut Micro-biota In The Pathogenesis Of Paediatric Autoimmune Liver Disease (AILD).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Liver disease can develop when a faulty immune system attacks the liver, occasionally leading to significant liver scarring and liver transplantation. Children who develop this condition need life-long treatment, but not every child responds. I intend to study immune cells and their activity in the blood and liver of affected children. By identifying the role of the immune system in liver inflammation, we hope to find out why children develop this disease and how best to treat them.
The Use Of Dosing Software With Bayesian Forecasting To Improve Antimicrobial-plasma Concentrations In The Intensive Care Unit
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$77,422.00
Summary
Emerging technologies such as DSBF is capable of assisting clinicians with selecting dosing regimens that achieve the target antimicrobial concentrations needed for treating infections. We will conduct a clinical trial to investigate the ability of DSBF to improve antimicrobial concentrations of patients in the ICU. The results of this study may lead to clinicians being given a new powerful validated tool for improving the treatment outcomes of patients suffering from infections in the ICU.
Clearing Chronic Infectious Diseases – Enhancing Host Immune Effector Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,314.00
Summary
Chronic infections produced by pathogens such as HIV, overwhelm our immune system leading to an exhausted state where cells responsible for the clearance of invading microorganisms are unable to respond effectively. We have recently identified a highly promising therapeutic target that enhances immune effector function. We seek to understand the underlying mechanism, and to explore the therapeutic potential of this approach for the treatment of a broad range of pathogens, including those respons ....Chronic infections produced by pathogens such as HIV, overwhelm our immune system leading to an exhausted state where cells responsible for the clearance of invading microorganisms are unable to respond effectively. We have recently identified a highly promising therapeutic target that enhances immune effector function. We seek to understand the underlying mechanism, and to explore the therapeutic potential of this approach for the treatment of a broad range of pathogens, including those responsible for chronic disease.Read moreRead less