For 60 years, we have had only 3 effective cancer treatments: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, often used in combination.The last 5 years have produced a powerful fourth treatment: the patient's own immune system.The long standing collaborations and synergies of our multi-disciplinary teams have already underpinned many recent advances in immune-based therapies: we are now poised to develop several further immunotherapies and on track to test them in patients during the term of this grant.
Antigen Presentation, Recognition And The Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$14,927,045.00
Summary
This program focuses on understanding the development of immunity during infection or inflammatory diseases using a broad array of techniques to dissect the function of various immune cell types and to explore the relationship between structure and function of important cell surface molecules. These studies will improve our ability to design new generation vaccines for combating infectious diseases, controlling cancer, or limiting autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.
The lymphocyte plays a vital role in our immune defence. When lymphocytes encounter a foreign invader, such as a virus, they make a series of decisions that influence the strength, type, and longevity of the immunity created. This program aims to understand how lymphocytes make decisions at the molecular level that affect cell and whole of system level behaviour. We aim to improve vaccines and understand diseases such as allergy, lupus, arthritis and leukaemia to develop novel therapies.
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.
Regulation Of Haemopoietic And Immune Cells In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$19,924,984.00
Summary
This Program brings together a team of researchers with world-class multidisciplinary skills in biomedical discovery and an established track record of clinical and commercial translation of research discoveries. This Program will result in the creation of new knowledge regarding the control of blood and immune cell production and function and provide new avenues for the treatment of people suffering from cancers of the blood, inflammatory and immune disorders.
This Program studies the mechanisms that control blood cell formation and how abnormalities play a role in leukaemia, a significant health problem worldwide. Despite some improvements, two major problems remain: controlling progression of leukaemia and relapse. The Program tackles these two major issues with the combination of studies of normal blood and leukaemia cell function, drug design and clinical trials ensuring a direct pathway from discovery to patient benefit.
Antigen Presentation, Recognition And The Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$15,780,848.00
Summary
This program focuses on understanding the development of immune response to viruses and other infectious agents using a broad array of techniques to dissect the function of various immune cell types and to explore the relationship between structure and function of important cell surface molecules. These studies will improve our ability to design new generation vaccines for combating infectious diseases, controlling cancer, or limiting autoimmune diseases like diabetes.
Molecular Regulation Of Blood Cell Production And Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$18,330,902.00
Summary
This Program comprises an established team of investigators that have made world-class contributions to the understanding of blood cell formation and function. Research will combine novel multidisciplinary genetic/genomics approaches, expert biochemistry, cell and molecular biological techniques with translational studies in humans to provide new insights into blood cell control and novel avenues for therapies in blood cell diseases such as leukaemia and autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
Uncovering The Basis Of Inflammatory And Immunodeficiency Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$15,718,075.00
Summary
A world-class team from 3 institutions, spanning disciplines of clinical and experimental immunology, therapeutics, signalling and genetics, will identify how immune and inflammatory responses are controlled in both health and disease. The major outcomes of this work will be the generation of new knowledge, concepts and approaches to diagnose, prevent and treat the major human health problems of autoimmune diseases, inflammation, allergy and immunodeficiency.
Mechanisms And Therapies In Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,360,700.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims 1 person every 10 min in Australia and causes 1 in 3 deaths worldwide. The molecular and cellular processes underlying atherosclerosis, vascular injury and thrombosis are highly complex and not well understood. A multifaceted approach is needed to effectively address these key challenges. This Program brings together world experts in these areas to interrogate gaps in our basic understanding of CVD, and to develop novel therapies for CVD patients by exploiting ....Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims 1 person every 10 min in Australia and causes 1 in 3 deaths worldwide. The molecular and cellular processes underlying atherosclerosis, vascular injury and thrombosis are highly complex and not well understood. A multifaceted approach is needed to effectively address these key challenges. This Program brings together world experts in these areas to interrogate gaps in our basic understanding of CVD, and to develop novel therapies for CVD patients by exploiting new knowledge through integrated research.Read moreRead less