Dr Alexandra Corbett
(03) 8344 9914 | corbetta@unimelb.edu.au
- Position:
- ARC Future Fellow
- Theme(s):
- Immunology, Host Pathogens Interactions
- Discipline(s):
- Discovery Research
- Unit(s):
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology (DMI)
- Lab Group(s):
- McCluskey Group, Dr Alexandra Corbett Sub-Group
Dr Alexandra Corbett completed her Bachelor of Science Honours in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (DMI) at the University of Melbourne in 1998 and PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute between 2001-2003, studying targeting antigen to DCs. Following two postdoctorals at Lions Eye Institute/UWA studying viral immune evasion molecules, and at Bio21 using mass spectrometry to identify MHC peptides, Alex returned to DMI and Professor Jim McCluskey’s labatory in 2012. Her current focus is on mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells). Following the identification of MAIT antigens and development of specific reagents, Alex now aims to define the role of MAIT cells in infection and inflammatory diseases.
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Key Achievements
Publications
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Alex’s studies have been recognised by academic prizes, scholarship for Honours and PhD, and a CRC studentship. Alex held a UWA Faculty Fellowship (2005-2006), and her second postdoctoral was supported by ECR and Arthritis Australia grants and a Career Interruption Fellowship (2010). She is Chief Investigator on two NHMRC Project Grants on MAIT cells in human disease (CIA), and on the structural recognition of MAIT cell antigens (CIB). Alex has authored key papers in each of her positions, including two recent Nature papers, and is an inventor on two patents describing the identification of MAIT antigens and tetramer reagent development.
Research GroupsLoading ORCID data...-
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.
Lab Team
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ARC Future Fellow
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Senior Research Officer
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Trust postdoctoral fellow
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Group Leader, MAIT Cell Program; NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow
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Criselle D'souzaPhD Student
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Lyudmila KostenkoResearch Assistant
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Bronwyn MeehanResearch Assistant
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Michael SouterHonours Student
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Lars Kjer-NielsenResearch Officer
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Bonnie van WilgenburgVisiting Research Officer
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Troi PediongcoResearch Assistant
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Freya HarewoodPhD Student
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Huimeng WangPhD Student
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Michael SouterPhD Student
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Shihan (Tony) LiPhD Student
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Xin Yi LimHonours Student
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Mai ShiMasters Student
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Robyn EsterbauerHonours Student
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Dr Alexandra Corbett Sub-Group
Alex co-supervises PhD students Criselle D’Souza, Huimeng Wang and Freya Harewood, and works with other members of the McCluskey lab on various aspects of MAIT biology. Alex has established key collaborations with a number of clinicians and other researchers to analyse MAIT cells in human disease.
Lab Team
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Criselle D’SouzaPhD students
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Huimeng WangPhD students
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Freya HarewoodPhD students
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