Researcher profiles and projects Diamantina Institute 2020/2021 Diamantina Institute Undergraduate research MD student research The University of Queensland to focus their efforts on turning projects experience Diamantina Institute (UQDI) is a their scientific discoveries into new UQDI offers various opportunities UQ Medicine is committed to enhancing modern research facility where clinical treatments for diseases including a for undergraduate students to gain the research training and experience for and basic science are used to study variety of cancers, arthritis and other research experience in biomedical students in the Medical Program. cancer, immunolgy and genomic autoimmune diseases. research facilities including Summer and There are a number of ways students medicine. Winter research projects. UQDI focuses on bringing the can incorporate research training and The Institute has a vibrant community discoveries of basic science to the For further information visit experience into their medical degree. patient. di.uq.edu.au/study/undergraduate of over 300 researchers, students and For further information visit: support staff. We have delivered global, We aim to translate the greatest medicine-program.uq.edu.au/research/ world-changing discoveries to humanity, Summer research projects opportunities for research discoveries research-your-medical-degree such as the world’s first cervical into the cause, mechanism, prevention For further information visit: cancer vaccine. and treatment of major disease. medicine.uq.edu.au/research/research- Research higher degree strategy-and-support-office/summer- Based at the Translational Research As part of The University of UQDI is an internationally recognised research-program research facility where clinical and Institute (TRI) beside the Princess Queensland’s prestigious Faculty of medical sciences converge in the Alexandra Hospital, UQDI has strong Medicine, UQDI is committed to making Winter research projects translational research of cancer, disorders clinical interactions and world-class a global difference to health outcomes. facilities that enable researchers to be For further information visit: of immune regulation and genomic medicine.uq.edu.au/research/research- at the forefront of their fields. UQDI’s medicine. For further information visit strategy-and-support-office/winter- position within the TRI allows for a di.uq.edu.au research-projects For more information on starting a Higher much greater collaborative research Degree by Research with us, please visit: environment, allowing our researchers In July of each year UQDI offers a one medicine.uq.edu.au/future-students#qt- week course in advanced immunology. study-foundation-tabs-4 For further information visit: di.uq.edu.au/event/2293/advanced- Key research themes: immunology-course Honours program UQDI hosts honours students enrolled through other schools within the Cancer Immunotherapy Faculties of Science or Medicine at UQ or affiliated Institutions. These include (but are not limited to) the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, or Genomic medicine Skin and skin cancer the School of Biomedical Sciences at UQ. The Honours Program is a one year full time course. Students must fulfill the prerequisites of the undergraduate Immunity and Faculty/School through which they are Inflammation enrolled. For further information visit: di.uq.edu.au/study/honours Professor Gabrielle Belz Dr Anne-Sophie Bergot Research Field Research Field Transcriptional regulation of immune cell Immunology and pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes development and memory formation in pathogen defence and mucosal immunity Research Synopsis Anne-Sophie is working with Prof. Ranjeny Research Synopsis Thomas on Immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes Our work aims to understand how the immune (T1D). system responds to infections including viruses, bacteria and parasites. We are investigating the use of a liposome based strategy to develop an antigen-specific We are investigating how different types therapy for T1D. Immunologically, it has a dual of immune cells develop, and what factors role of fostering regulatory T cell function and influences their decision to become one type terminating pathogenic T cells. of immune cell or another to mediate long term immune protection. Research Projects • “Analysis of effector and regulatory T cells Understanding how the body deals with E [email protected] in type 1 diabetes” using various genetic, E [email protected] pathogens will give clues about how to enhance P 07 3443 8026 immunological or cell based assays P 07 3443 6946 protective immunity. Our goal is to discover new therapies that boost our immune system to researchers.uq.edu.au/ researchers.uq.edu.au/ protect against infection. researcher/25382 researcher/2335 Research Projects • Identifying novel functions of innate lymphoid cells and NK cells in immune protection • Unravelling the microbome-epithelial-immune interface protecting mucosal surfaces • Elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the generation of protective immunity in response to lung and gastrointestinal pathogens Associate Professor Antje Blumenthal Dr Andrew Brooks Research Field Research Field Innate immunity and infectious diseases Class I cytokine receptor signalling and HLA-G regulation of inflammation Research Synopsis With resistance to antibiotics on the rise, new Research Synopsis insights into host defence mechanisms that Our research focuses on understanding the control pathogenic bacteria are vital for the mechanisms of cytokine receptor signalling development of novel therapeutic interventions. and how these receptors regulate cell behavior Our research focuses on molecular pathways and functions such as inflammation, blood that are important for the recognition and cell formation, postnatal growth, obesity, and control of bacterial pathogens as well as those lactation. Dysregulated cytokine receptor that orchestrate inflammatory responses during signalling leads to many diseases such as cancer infection. and inflammatory diseases such as liver fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis. The Students are part of a dynamic research team to development of novel molecules that target maximise their research training and experience. cytokine receptors or their signalling pathways The research employs a series of molecular, cell E [email protected] E [email protected] may lead to important therapeutics for a wide biological and immunological techniques to P 07 3443 6984 P 07 3443 7071 variety of clinically important diseases. define novel molecular and cellular aspects of the researchers.uq.edu.au/ researchers.uq.edu.au/ host response to infection. Research Projects researcher/2366 researcher/1699 Research Projects • Understanding dysregulated cytokine receptor signalling in leukaemia • Innate immune recognition of pathogenic bacteria • Defining the mechanisms of cytokine receptor signalling • Molecular regulation of host anti-microbial defence mechanisms • Developing novel therapeutic peptides targeting cytokine receptors • Defining the mechanism of HLA-G inhibition of NK cell activation Dr Janin Chandra Professor Paul Clarke Research Field Research Field Immunobiology of antigen-presenting cells in Cell cycle control in cancer health and disease Research Synopsis Research Synopsis Paul Clarke is working on the role of cell division Immunotherapy aims to correct a mal- in the development of cancer and in the response functioning immune system to combat a variety of cancer cells to cancer therapies. His research of diseases including cancer, autoimmunity or group investigates the role of tumour suppressors allergies. Many immunotherapy targets have and oncogenes that control mitosis and mitotic been identified and some have been developed cell death. His group study the function of into powerful treatments. Immunotherapy largely proteins in tumour cells using biochemical targets effector T cell responses which are either techniques to identify their post-translational suppressed or falsely activated. Professional modifications (phosphorylation, ubiquitylation) antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells and advanced microscopy to analyse their (DCs) play a pivotal role in T cell fates and localisation and stability in live cells. The group are hence a desired immunotherapy target. aim to understand why tumour cells often have E [email protected] E [email protected] Immunotherapy has the potential to effectively abnormal numbers of chromosomes and why P 07 3443 6976 P 07 3443 7990 harness DCs to prime e.g cancer-specific they become resistant to cell death. This work cytotoxic T cell responses or shut-down self- or researchers.uq.edu.au/ will improve our understanding of how cancer researchers.uq.edu.au/ allergen-reactive T cells. My research focusses researcher/2717 develops and will provide new strategies for researcher/17454 on understanding dendritic cell diversity and cancer therapy. fate, and how manipulation of dendritic cells can Research Projects improve disease outcomes. • The role of tumour suppressors in mitosis Research Projects • Control of mitotic cell death • Characterising the diversity of dendritic cells in steady state and disease • The relationship between cellular ageing and cancer • Defining and optimising the mechanisms of action of therapeutic vaccine candidates Professor Riccardo Dolcetti Professor David Evans Research Field Research Field New strategies to improve cancer Genetics of complex traits and diseases; immunotherapy