The Inflammation Biology Group has developed, refined and characterised a number of models used to gain new insights into the factors that regulate viral infection and inflammatory disease. The models are also exploited for collaborative research and development with industry to test potential new interventions (e.g. vaccines, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-viral agents).
The group has over 25 years of activity in improving our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of the diseases cause by arthritogenic alphaviruses such as chikungunya virus and Ross River virus. We have also developed models of Zika virus (foetal brain infection and testes damage) and Yellow fever virus liver pathology, which have been used in the development of vaccines and characterisation of pathogenic determinants.
Very recently, we repurposed a PC3 laboratory and have started to undertake research into SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.