Immunology
Our research spans viral immunology, tumour immunology, cytokines, chemokines and inflammation, haemostasis and inflammation and muscle regeneration.
Our development of synthetic GAG-mimetics that inhibit cytokine activity for use as therapeutics in inflammatory disease is the subject of numerous patents and is supported by Glycan Biosciences LLC, Philadelphia, USA.
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School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Associate Professor Patricia Price and Dr Silvia Lee
Associate Professor Patricia Price and Dr Silvia Lee’s research focuses on viral immunology. They address the role of cytomegalovirus in diseases of ageing, with a focus on cardiovascular change (in collaboration with Professor Chris Reid). The team also study the pathogenesis of sensory neuropathy and role of CMV in clinical and immune recovery in HIV patients treated in Jakarta and Johannesburg.
Associate Professor Delia Nelson
Associate Professor Delia Nelson works in the area of tumour immunology. She is interested in understanding how the function of innate and adaptive immunity is modulated by the presence of a progressing tumour, the impact ageing exerts on immune function, as well as the impact of standard cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapies, gene therapies and/or vascular targeting therapies on immune function.
Professor Deirdre Coombe
Professor Deirdre Coombe is interested in the molecular interactions of cytokines and chemokines with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) found in extracellular matrices and on cell surfaces. In collaboration with Dr Alan Payne, School of Applied Chemistry, she has developed synthetic GAG-mimetics that inhibit cytokine activity for use as therapeutics in inflammatory disease. Currently they are focused on developing these GAG-mimetics as drugs for asthma and allergic diseases. This work is the subject of numerous patents and is supported by Glycan Biosciences LLC, Philadelphia, USA.
Dr Pat Metharom
Dr Pat Metharom investigates the activity of platelets, the key mediators of haemostasis, across different pathologies. His research focuses on how platelets, an often overlooked population of immune cells, exert inflammatory signals and crosstalk with other immune cells to influence the development of a wide variety of disorders such as diabetes, neuroinflammatory diseases and cancer.
Dr Connie Jackaman, Dr Hannah Crabb and Dr Danielle Dye
Dr Connie Jackaman, Dr Hannah Crabb and Dr Danielle Dye are examining the role of inflammation, including key immune cells known as macrophages, in muscle repair following injury in the elderly. This includes addressing the molecular mechanisms that impact inflammatory responses during aging. This project is a collaboration with Professor Miranda Grounds from the University of Western Australia, and Associate Professor Delia Nelson and Dr Carl Mousley.
Associate Professor David Groth
Associate Professor Groth’s research focuses on understanding the host response to internal parasites focusing mainly on gastrointestinal parasites in animals, but also trypanosomes. He use sheep as the model for investigating the host’s genetic influences on parasite elimination. This uses both targeted DNA sequencing as well as whole genome analysis.