Our research themes

Promising avenues for better therapeutic approaches to immunological and infectious diseases depends on fundamental, curiosity-driven research to unravel the underlying complexities of disease pathogenesis and the protective immune response. Approaches to new treatments encompass novel target identification, targeted treatments, immunotherapies and vaccines.

Our research includes the following themes:

Innate immunity

We research cellular and molecular components involved in innate immunity.

Adaptive immunity

We investigate how B-cells and T-cells play a key role in protective immunity.

Immune dysfunction

We explore what drives B- and T-cell autoimmunity, allergies and drug hypersensitivities.

Immunity and ageing

We research the mechanisms of immune aging and the impact this has on infections and autoimmune diseases.

Macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils and immunotherapy

We investigate how macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils are regulated and how their dysregulation by pathogens contributes to disease.

Microbiome

Our research explores the role of the microbiome in the development of host immune and regulatory responses and diseases such as asthma.

Cancer

We are working to integrate discoveries in metabolic cancer and immunology to translate into new cancer therapies.

Cardiovascular disease

We investigate the role of the immune system in cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, essential hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Antimicrobial resistance

The biggest global problem in human health is the rise of antimicrobial resistance (antibiotic resistant 'superbugs') in our environment. We are developing creative approaches to overcome the problem.

Microbial genomics

We use genomic analysis to understand and overcome the emergence of new bacterial 'superbugs', new fungal pathogens and new viruses from influenza (flu), SARS and Ebola.

Host-pathogen molecular biology

We are discovering how bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens trigger responses in their human hosts, and how these interactions can be harnessed or suppressed by nutritional or drug treatments to prevent disease.