Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100827
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,737.00
Summary
Delineating the developmental requirements for stem-like T cells. Stem-like CD8 T cells are critical for sustaining long-term systemic T cell activity. The signalling required for their development, however, remains elusive. Integrating multidisciplinary expertise, cutting-edge technology and highly innovative methods, this project aims to define the signalling cues provided by tissue microenvironment that control the development and maintenance of stem-like T cells, and thereby dictate systemic ....Delineating the developmental requirements for stem-like T cells. Stem-like CD8 T cells are critical for sustaining long-term systemic T cell activity. The signalling required for their development, however, remains elusive. Integrating multidisciplinary expertise, cutting-edge technology and highly innovative methods, this project aims to define the signalling cues provided by tissue microenvironment that control the development and maintenance of stem-like T cells, and thereby dictate systemic immunity. This project is expected to generate fundamental knowledge on basic immunology and T cell biology, which can benefit the academic, public health and biotechnology sectors by enhancing the international standing of Australian research on basic immunology and fostering new commercial opportunities. Read moreRead less
Poly(amino acids) as immune stimulators. This project aims to develop nanoparticles built from natural hydrophobic amino acids as an immune stimulatory delivery system for peptide antigens. Currently available immune stimulants (adjuvants) are often toxic and/or are poorly chemically defined fragments of bacteria or toxins and vary from batch-to-batch. New adjuvants are in high demand; especially to facilitate the use of optimal, but weakly immunogenic, peptide antigens. It is expected that the ....Poly(amino acids) as immune stimulators. This project aims to develop nanoparticles built from natural hydrophobic amino acids as an immune stimulatory delivery system for peptide antigens. Currently available immune stimulants (adjuvants) are often toxic and/or are poorly chemically defined fragments of bacteria or toxins and vary from batch-to-batch. New adjuvants are in high demand; especially to facilitate the use of optimal, but weakly immunogenic, peptide antigens. It is expected that the proposed project will develop a novel efficient, safe and notably biodegradable self-adjuvanting delivery system that can be fully customised to match an antigen of choice. This foundational research should provide important advances for commercial immune stimulatory applications.Read moreRead less