The Molecular Determinants Of Immunological Tolerance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
Autoimmune diseases, such as type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis, are debilitating disorders that impose a massive toll on wellbeing in Australia and worldwide. This fellowship will support research aimed at determining the genes and mechanisms that control autoimmunity. New technologies will be brought to bear to track immune cells throughout their development, maturity and malfunction in disease settings. We aim to uncover new therapeutic targets to prevent and reverse autoimmune disease.
MicroRNA Networks That Safeguard The Functional Program Of Regulatory T Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,941.00
Summary
A newly discovered group of molecules termed microRNAs are thought to function as rheostats for the activity of genes. We have shown that these molecules are critical for the function of an immune cell type termed regulatory T cells. Without these cells, the immune system is unable to prevent uncontrolled and destructive inflammation. This proposal aims to utilize diverse technologies to uncover the precise molecular mechanisms by which microRNAs safeguard the function of regulatory T cells.