Stem cell transplantation is considered the “gold standard” procedure for the treatment of blood cancers (including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma) in both adults and children. Globally, over 9,000 patients per year undergo this high-risk, life-saving therapy. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs in 50-70% of patients, of which 20% will develop severe GVHD that is untreatable. Unfortunately, additional complications such as infection and cancer relapse are common.
Research conducted by the Transplantation Immunology laboratory focuses on improving our understanding of the pathophysiology of complications following stem cell transplantation. Using unique preclinical models combined with innovative technologies, the group aims to define the immunological mechanisms that underpin these complex disease processes, with the view of translating the basic research findings into clinical practice.
CURRENT RESEARCH
- cytokine responses within the gastrointestinal tract which dictate T cell fate and transplant outcome
- interplay between cytokines, microbiota and metabolites which regulate acute intestinal graft-versus-host disease
- mechanisms of MAIT cell function during homeostasis, acute graft-versus-host disease and infection
- determinants of increased susceptibility to respiratory syncytial virus infection after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Staff
- Alika Collinge, Research Assistant
- Harry Ling, Honours Student
- Sophie Hamann, PhD Student
- Stuart Olver, Research Assistant
Internal Collaborators
- Associate Professor Simon Phipps
- Professor Sudha Rao
- Dr Andrea Henden
- Associate Professor Kate Gartlan
- Associate Professor Siok Tey
External Collaborators
International
- Professor Geoff Hill, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle USA
- Dr Motoko Koyama, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle USA
National
- Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti, Monash University, Melbourne
- Dr Iona Schuster, Monash University, Melbourne
- A/Professor Ashraful Haque, Peter Doherty Institute and University of Melbourne
Local
- Dr Seweryn Bialasiewicz, University of Queensland
- Professor Philip Hugenholtz, University of Queensland
- Dr Quan Nguyen, University of Queensland
- A/Professor Esteban Marcellin, University of Queensland
- Professor Benjamin Schulz, University of Queensland
- Professor Ranjeny Thomas, University of Queensland/ Translational Research Institute
- Professor Mark Morrison, University of Queensland/ Translational Research Institute
- Dr Glen Kennedy, RBWH
- Dr Andrew Clouston, Envoi Pathology
- A/Professor Sumaira Hasnain, Mater Research Institute/Translational Research Institute
- Professor Kirsten Spann, Queensland University of Technology
We gratefully acknowledge support from the following funding bodies:
- National Health & Medical Research Council
- Queensland University of Technology
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre
- Queensland Health (Metro North Health)