LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY

• Staff
  • Laboratory Heads
  • Scientific Staff
  • Research Staff
  • Technical Staff
  • Affiliate Senior Research Fellow
  • Students
• Goals
• Research Projects
  1. Characterisation of leukocyte surface molecules
  2. Applications of immunology in diagnosis and therapy

STAFF

Laboratory Heads

Scientific Staff

Research Staff

Technical Staff

Affiliate Senior Research Fellow

Students

GOALS

We want to improve our understanding of leukocyte function through studies of leukocyte surface molecules, and to exploit immunological molecules as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. Characterisation of leukocyte surface molecules (Biomarkers)

The Leukocyte Biology Lab is a founding partner within the CRC for Biomarker Translation (CRC-BT) whose aim is to develop monoclonal antibodies that are directed against therapeutic and diagnostic biomarkers that are present on cells that play a key role in major diseases including autoimmune diseases and cancers. Over the last two years we and our CRC partners have identified new cell surface markers for cells of the immune system including regulatory T cells (Treg), Th17 cells, dendritic cells (DC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), and our lab has started to make and evaluate monoclonal antibodies against these cells. The first of our new antibodies CRCBT-02-001 has been used by the HLDA Workshops to define a "CD number" for its target antigen.

2. Applications of immunology in diagnosis and therapy

In order to be able to evaluate and apply newly-discovered molecules, we are developing a collaborative network with diagnostic and therapeutic companies, pathologists and scientists.

• We have been awarded a joint NHMRC grant (2011-2013) together with the Molecular Immunology Laboratory (Simon Barry, WCHRI). This project will focus on a new biomarker and its function on regulatory T cells.
• We have continued our project with Dr. Christina Boros, the Head of the Rheumatology at CYWHS, characterising T cell subtypes in synovial fluid and peripheral blood from patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Results of this study have been presented in Toronto, Canada and Barcelona, Spain.
• Our collaborative project in pregnant women suffering from asthma, led by Dr. Vicki Clifton from the University of Adelaide, gave new insights in the characteristics of monocyte populations in asthma. Some of these results were presented at the 18th Meeting of the Japan-Placenta-Association 2010 and the 11th International Congress of Reproductive Immunology.
  
• We have performed a clinical study with Dr. Pravin Hissaria, SA Pathology, investigating memory T cells, regulatory T cells and Th17 cells in peripheral blood from 100 Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.
• 
  In late 2010, we started a collaboration with Pat Hughes and Ashley Blackshaw from the Hanson Institute, characterising the immune phenotype of post infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome (PI-IBS).
  
• The Leukocyte Biology Lab provides core expertise in immunology, antibody technology and flow cytometry to other WCHRI Labs as needed. In addition to NHMRC-supported collaborations with the Child Nutrition group, the Molecular Immunology Lab and the Wound Healing Lab, we provided flow cytometry skills to several WCHRI Laboratories.

As new antibodies emerge from the discovery studies we aim to expand our network of clinical collaborations in order to establish the utility of these potential diagnostic and therapeutic agents.