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Research Groups
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Laura Mackay Group
The Mackay Lab studies memory T cell responses, with a focus on the signals that control tissue-resident memory T cell differentiation, and a view to harness these cells to develop new treatments against infection, cancer and autoimmune conditions.
Current Projects
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The role of tissue-resident memory T cells in barrier immunity, cancer and autoimmune diseases
Infections are commonly acquired through barrier tissues such as the skin, gut and lung, hence establishing memory CD8+ killer T cell populations at these sites is critical for effective immune protection. Likewise, an effective local memory CD8+ T cell response is critical to cancer immunosurveillance, preventing the development and spread of solid tumours. While most memory T cells circulate in the blood, a distinct lineage, termed tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells, resides and remains in peripheral tissues. Our group has shown that these cells form a defensive barrier providing immediate local control of viral infection and cancer recurrence. Our current research focuses on developing novel strategies to boost TRM cell responses, and therefore exploit these cells in settings such as vaccination and cancer immunotherapy. Work in our laboratory also aims to understand the role of TRM cells in autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis and alopecia areata and investigate new approaches to eliminate pathological cells from peripheral tissues.
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Identifying the mechanisms of immune cell development in peripheral tissues
It is now clear that various immune cell populations including T cells, innate lymphoid cells and NKT cells can establish tissue residency and persist long-term in peripheral tissues. Our group is interested in the role of the tissue microenvironment in shaping these immune cell populations and are studying the tissue-tropic factors and microbial signals that govern the environmental adaptation of immune cells to different tissues. We are also investigating the effect of commensalism and microbial experience on immune cell populations and tissue homeostasis. Our goal is to decipher the molecular framework for tissue-resident lymphocyte differentiation, which will provide a basis for targeting these cells in future immune cell-based therapies.
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Whole body analysis of human T cell development and function
The majority of T cell responses occur in tissues; however, current knowledge of human T cells is largely derived from blood. In collaboration with the Australian Donation and Transplantation BioBank (ADTB), our group studies the T cell landscape in multiple lymphoid, visceral and barrier sites from research-consented organ donors. We seek to investigate immune cell distribution across the body and understand the pathways that guide T cell differentiation and maintenance in diverse tissue sites. Our work aims to better-inform the development of immunotherapies that modulate tissue-based cellular responses.
Lab Team
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Senior Research Officer
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Dr Thomas BurnResearch Officer
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ARC DECRA Research Fellow
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Dr Raissa FonsecaARC DECRA Research Fellow
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Dr Luke GandolfoResearch Officer (Computational Biology)
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Senior Research Fellow
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Dr Andrea NguyenResearch Officer
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Dr Kelly PatonResearch Officer
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Dr Tobias PochDFG Walter Benjamin Programme Fellow
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Dr Natasha ZamudioLaboratory Manager
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Dr Pirooz ZareieARC DECRA Research Fellow
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Honorary Research Fellow
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Keely McDonaldResearch Assistant
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Allison ClatchPhD Candidate
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James DosserPhD Candidate
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Louis LeePhD Candidate
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Andreas ObersPhD Candidate
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Maleika OsmanPhD Candidate
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Justine SeowPhD Candidate
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Joey KuaiMasters Student
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Rachel EvansHonours Student
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Barrow group
My lab is interested in how receptors expressed by immune cells distinguish normal healthy cells from malignant cells or pathogens. We want to understand how these receptors work together to regulate immune responses so we can design better clinical interventions.
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Bedoui Group
The Bedoui Lab uses models of viral and bacterial infection to study how the innate and the adaptive immune system interact. Key foci are to understand how innate cells sense pathogens and how this information is integrated into protective adaptive T cell responses.
Other work areas include:Bacterial and Parasitic Infections
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Brooks Group
Research in Andrew’s laboratory is largely centred on how natural killer cells and T cells impact the outcomes of viral infection, cancer and transplantation.
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Chung group
The Chung group is interested in understanding the biophysical and functional properties of antibodies that are associated with protection against a range of infectious diseases, which will provide important insights to improve antibody-based vaccines and therapies.
Other work areas include:COVID-19, Viral Infectious Diseases
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Corbett Group
Our team study mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. We seek to understand how vitamin-based antigens are produced by microorganisms, how MAIT cells detect these antigens and how we can manipulate MAIT cell functions to improve outcomes in infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Other work areas include:Bacterial and Parasitic Infections
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Gebhardt Group
Thomas’ group studies basic and translational aspects of immune responses in peripheral tissues. Their overall goal is to develop future vaccines and immunomodulatory therapies that target peripheral T cells for improved clinical outcomes in infection, inflammation and cancer.
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Heath Group
Professor Bill Heath’s group’s cellular immunology research currently focuses on understanding killer T cell function with particular reference to improved vaccination strategies and understanding malarial disease.
Other work areas include:Malaria
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Kallies Group
The Kallies laboratory studies the molecular control of T-cell differentiation and function in the context of chronic disease, including infection and cancer.
Other work areas include:Viral Infectious Diseases
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Kedzierska Group
Professor Katherine Kedzierska’s team researches immunity to viral infections, especially the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. Her work spans basic research from mouse experiments to human immunity through to clinical settings, with particular focus on understanding universal CD8+ T cell immunity to respiratory viruses. Her studies aim to identify key correlates of severe and fatal respiratory disease in high-risk groups including children, the elderly, Australian First Nations people, pregnant women and patients with co-morbidities.
Other work areas include:COVID-19, Viral Infectious Diseases, Influenza
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Kent Group
Stephen’s group studies immunity to HIV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2. They are analysing a variety of vaccine strategies, including nanoparticle-based vaccines. They are studying a series of immune responses to gain better insights into protective immunity to important viral pathogens. They are developing monoclonal antibody therapies for HIV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 to improve the treatment of these infections. The Kent group works very closely with Dr Amy Chung’s laboratory at the Doherty Institute.
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Lewin Group
The focus of the Lewin group is to understand why HIV infection persists on antiretroviral therapy and to develop new strategies to eliminate latency. The lab also researches factors that drive liver disease in HIV-hepatitis B virus co-infection. The lab is also actively involved in COVID in relation to pathogenesis, the use of primary tissue models, and developing therapeutics using gene editing strategies.
Other work areas include:Viral Infectious Diseases
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Mantamadiotis Group
The Mantamadiotis group studies basic and translational aspects of molecular and cellular responses in brain cancer. Their overall goal is to develop future therapies, including immunomodulatory therapies that target the tumour cells and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes for improved clinical outcomes in cancer.
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Matthew McKay Group
The McKay Group focuses on developing computational models, statistical and machine learning methods to address problems in infectious diseases and immunology. Current research is aimed at understanding virus evolution and immune escape and for identifying potent targets for next-generation vaccines.
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McCluskey Group
MAIT cells respond to precursors of riboflavin, allowing the immune system to detect microbial invaders. The McCluskey group aims to understand their role in infection/inflammatory conditions and is tackling this question using mouse models, human tissue analysis and structural biology.
If you are interested to collaborate with us, please, feel free to get in touch. Please note that the human and mouse MR1 tetramers developed in our laboratory can now be ordered through the NIH tetramer core facility.
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Mueller Group
Research in the Mueller laboratory is focused on dissecting the fundamental cellular processes involved in immune and neuro-immune responses to viruses and cancer in order to identify new targets for vaccines and novel therapeutics. We use advanced imaging and image analysis, single cell and spatial transcriptomics, transgenic mice, CRISPR editing and neuroscience tools to address these crucial knowledge gaps.
Other work areas include:Malaria
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Purcell Lab
Professor Damian Purcell’s research group investigates the HIV-1 and HTLV-1 human retroviruses that cause AIDS and leukaemia/inflammatory pathogenesis respectively. The lab studies their genetic structure and gene expression with a focus on defining the mechanisms that control viral persistence and pathogenesis. The molecular interplay of viral and host factors during viral infection and the innate and adaptive immune responses to viral infection are examined. These molecular insights are used to develop new antiviral and curative therapeutics, preventive prophylactic vaccines and passive antibody microbicides and therapeutics. Some of these patented discoveries have been commercialised and we are assisting with clinical trials.
Other work areas include:COVID-19, Viral Infectious Diseases, Bacterial and Parasitic Infections, HIV
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Reading Group
Patrick’s group investigates how the body first detects and responds to respiratory viruses. They investigate viral attachment factors, cellular receptors and entry pathways, virus-induced activation of host genes and the mechanisms by which intracellular host proteins can block virus replication.
Other work areas include:COVID-19, Viral Infectious Diseases, Influenza
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Robins-Browne Group
Research in Roy’s laboratory is partly focused on how E. coli causes diarrhoea, with the aims of identifying better ways to diagnose, treat and prevent these infections. Another theme is the development of new types of antibacterial agents.
Other work areas include:Enteric infections, Antimicrobial Resistance
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Sullivan Group
Sheena’s epidemiology group at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza undertakes research into understanding influenza vaccine effectiveness and the validity of the methods used to estimate it. The group also provides technical assistance to partners in the Western Pacific Region of the WHO.
Other work areas include:COVID-19, Viral Infectious Diseases, Influenza
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Tong Group
Steve’s group conducts clinical trials to optimise the treatment of infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other bacterial pathogens. He also investigates the epidemiology and genomics of streptococcal infections, hepatitis B, influenza, and antimicrobial resistance in Australian Indigenous communities.
Other work areas include:Staphylococcus aureus, Viral Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Bacterial and Parasitic Infections, Public Health
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Vaccine Research Group
Based at the Doherty Institute, the Vaccine Research Group works in partnership with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI, Infection and Immunity Theme). Our research enables us to advise policy makers on the optimal use of vaccines in national immunisation schedules, in pandemic influenza preparedness and response, and in vaccine safety. Our work provides practical bridges (translation) between theory and the real-world delivery of vaccine programs.
Now recruiting volunteers
- Get prepared for winter: volunteer to receive a new type of covid vaccine
Healthy adult volunteers needed to participate in a study using Australia’s first self-amplifying mRNA covid vaccinations.
Learn more
Other work areas include:COVID-19, Viral Infectious Diseases
- Get prepared for winter: volunteer to receive a new type of covid vaccine
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Valkenburg Lab
The Valkenburg laboratory investigates viral immunity to emerging viruses with pandemic potential: influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2. Our work spans randomised control vaccine trials, observational studies of infected patients and animal models to decipher immune correlates to drive novel translational outcomes for specific diagnostics, targeted therapeutics and next generation vaccines for public health impact.
Other work areas include:COVID-19, Viral Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Influenza
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Villadangos Group
Jose’s group combines immunology, biochemistry and cell biology to study how the adaptive immune system detects pathogens and cancer, a process called Antigen Presentation. Their research is applicable to vaccine development, treatment of critically ill patients and the fight against cancer.
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Wakim Group
Linda’s group’s main research focus is understating the mechanism of action and regulation of expression of antiviral proteins. Linda’s group also aims to characterise CD8 T cell responses within the lung following virus infection.
Other work areas include:Influenza
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