Project: Harnessing Trm immunity through vaccination
Heath Group
Tissue-resident memory T cells (Trm cells) can provide fast, efficient responses against infection in organs. Trm cell generation through vaccination promises to provide unprecedented protection against infection. A key aspect of Trm cell formation is effector T cell migration and retention in tissues. Signals received by the T cell during activation, as well as those deriving from tissues (for example, during infection), can have a profound impact in Trm formation. Similar signals are evoked during vaccination using adjuvants. This project seeks to study the effect of adjuvants on T cell migration and Trm formation in tissues, and hence to harness Trm formation in target organs through vaccination.
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Heath Group
8 vacancies
The Heath group is interested in the immune response to pathogens, particularly to malaria, which is still a major cause of mortality worldwide. We study T cell responses with the aim of improving vaccine strategies and focus on T cell responses in the skin, the liver and lymphoid organs including the spleen. Our lab recently discovered a population of resident memory T cells within the liver that are capable of protecting against malaria infection. These and other cells are currently being studied.
Heath Group Current Projects
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Discovery of malaria vaccine peptide targets
Honours
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Gamma delta T cells, crucial for malaria immunity
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Type 2 CD4 responses form better memory
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Development of a malaria-specific mRNA vaccine
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Investigating the role of memory T cell subsets in protection from malaria
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Determining the effector pathways used by memory T cell subsets to clear malaria parasites from the liver
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Imaging cellular interactions during immune priming
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Harnessing Trm immunity through vaccination
Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.