Monif group

Monif Group

Neuroimmunology, Neuroinflammation and Neurooncology

Our work | Get in touch | Our people | Our achievements | Publications

Our group studies neuroinflammation in multiple neurological conditions, with a focus on the development of new therapeutic targets and improvement in patient outcomes.

The majority of our work is translational, meaning it is based on seeing or recruiting patients at the bedside (hospital) obtaining their insights and collecting samples like tissue or blood to use for analysis in the laboratory, in order to answer necessary research questions.

Our ultimate aim is to take the findings or knowledge we produce in the laboratory back into the hospital setting to improve treatments and provide advancements in patient care.

Important milestone for MS care in Australasia

Current international clinical practice guidelines do not cover treatments available in Australasia. Our researchers have developed 80 evidence-based  recommendations for clinicians and people with MS, published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA).

See plain language summary and infographic.

MJA web page

Our work

We focus on solving the most challenging problems in neurological conditions

  • To more accurately define autoimmune encephalitis in the clinical setting at onset and progression to reduce its misdiagnosis and assist patients getting an earlier diagnosis
  • To find better treatments to increase the survival rates of people with glioblastoma without the disabling side effects which impact on quality of life
  • To identify soluble biomarkers for people who have flares in multiple sclerosis to develop targeted therapies to improve their functional independence
  • To understand clinical and peripheral blood / cellular biomarkers of CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) -T cell therapy related neurotoxicity
  • To decipher biomarkers of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) related relapse and disability accrual.

We use multiple technologies and biological methods to perform our work including tissue culture, live cell confocal imaging, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and immunoassay experiments (e.g. ELISA, qPCR). We use the following Monash Technology Research Platforms – FlowCore, Monash Histology Platform, and Monash Micro Imaging (MMI).

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Autoimmune encephalitis

Australian Autoimmune Encephalitis Consortium. A national collaborative study tackling autoimmune encephalitis. Find out more

Brain cancer

Our major focus area is understanding glioblastoma, an aggressive, invasive and deadly form of brain cancer. Find out more

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy is a form of cell therapy that has revolutionised the treatment of a variety of haematological cancers. Our group studies the clinical, radiological, cellular, soluble, and cognitive biomarkers of CAR-T-related neurotoxicity. Find out more

Multiple sclerosis

We focus on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of MS relapse and how the various disease-modifying therapies for MS affect the peripheral immune responses. Find out more

Get in touch

Whether you want to be involved in our research, you wish to study with us or donate to our work, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Available honours and postgraduate research projects

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Our people

Group leader

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Monif research group. (Left to right) - back: Robb Wesselingh, Nabil Seery, Sean, Matthew Drill, Michael Hayes, Tiffany Rushen, middle: Sarah McDonald, Katherine Ko, Tracie Tan, Daniel Pearce, Beth Cole, Meltem Karadeniz, front: Padmakrishnan Jayakrishnan, Miriam Wonski, Lauren Melitsis, Mastura Monif (group leader), and Christina Kazzi

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