Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo
Donate

Search

Research

Exploiting temporal aspects of cancer immunotherapy

Many mechanisms underlying an effective immunotherapy-induced antitumour response are transient and critically time dependent. This is equally true for several immunological events in the tumour microenvironment induced by other cancer treatments. Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has proven to be very effective in the treatment of some cancers, but unfortunately, with many cancer types, most patients do not experience a benefit. 

Research

The Australian New Zealand Consortium in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Oncofertility action plan

International and national oncofertility networks, including the US-led Oncofertility Consortium, FertiProtekt, and the Danish Network, have played pivotal roles in advancing the discipline of oncofertility over the last decade. Many other countries lack a shared approach to pediatric oncofertility health service delivery.

Research

The MexTAg collaborative cross: host genetics affects asbestos related disease latency, but has little influence once tumours develop

This study combines two innovative mouse models in a major gene discovery project to assess the influence of host genetics on asbestos related disease (ARD). Conventional genetics studies provided evidence that some susceptibility to mesothelioma is genetic. However, the identification of host modifier genes, the roles they may play, and whether they contribute to disease susceptibility remain unknown.

Research

CMV drives the expansion of highly functional memory T cells expressing NK-cell receptors in renal transplant recipients

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common opportunistic infection encountered in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) and may be reactivated without symptoms at any time post-transplant.

Research

Dietary Vitamin D Increases Percentages and Function of Regulatory T Cells in the Skin-Draining Lymph Nodes and Suppresses Dermal Inflammation

Dietary vitamin D3 increased the suppressive activity of regulatory T cells in the skin-draining lymph nodes, which are poised to suppress dermal inflammation

Research

Timing of excision after a non-severe burn has a significant impact on the subsequent immune response in a murine model

Early excision of the wound, during the phase of immune down-regulation initiated by the burn, maintains an innate and adaptive immune cell response

Research

Dendritic cells and influenza A virus infection

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a dangerous virus equipped with the potential to evoke widespread pandemic disease.

Research

Optimal conditions required for influenza A infection-enhanced cross-priming of CD8+ T cells specific to cell-associated antigens

Our group has recently shown that influenza A virus (IAV) infection of allogeneic cells lead to enhanced cross-priming of TCD8+ specific to cellular antigens.

Research

Resident CD8+ and Migratory CD103+ Dendritic Cells Control CD8 T Cell Immunity during Acute Influenza Infection

The identification of the specific DC subsets providing a critical role in presenting influenza antigens to naïve T cell precursors remains contentious and...

Research

Characteristics of TCR Repertoire Associated With Successful Immune Checkpoint Therapy Responses

Immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer treatment. In particular, immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) leads to durable responses in some patients with some cancers. However, the majority of treated patients do not respond. Understanding immune mechanisms that underlie responsiveness to ICT will help identify predictive biomarkers of response and develop treatments to convert non-responding patients to responding ones. ICT primarily acts at the level of adaptive immunity. The specificity of adaptive immune cells, such as T and B cells, is determined by antigen-specific receptors.