Projects

This project has been designed to pinpoint cellular and molecular epigenetic mechanisms that drive age-related immune-senescence and inflammation, critical to the decline in immune function and ability to respond to vaccines, infections and cancers in the elderly. Multiple project streams and scholarships available.

Co-supervised by Dr April Kartikasari - plus for specific subprojects, additional co-supervision by the Prof. Itsiopoulos (diet) and/or Prof. Flanagan (Launceston General Hospital)

This project will systematically map epigenetic changes that promote age-related immune dysfunction, in the context of human vaccination trials, as well as cancer human clinical trials. Our laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of immune cells, including RNAseq, genome-wide epigenetics, multicolour flow cytometry, cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis, as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional immune-cell assays. Multiple project streams and scholarships available.

Co-supervised by Dr April Kartikasari - plus for specific sub-projects collaboration with Prof Arnan Mitchel and Dr Cesar Huertas (Micro Nano Research Platform) for downstream lab-on-a-chip practical biomarker detection at home.

We are currently working on a large-scale human vaccine (DTP and influenza) trial (n=600) in Tasmania in which we will map, as a world first, how innate immunity and innate training differs in humans based on age and sex, and how this affects responses to vaccines. Our laboratory uses bioinformatics pipelines to analyse big volumes of metagenetic data, such as trimomatic, FastQ screen, centrifuge/kraken and many more. Multiple project streams and scholarships available.

Co-supervised by Dr Jennifer Boer and Professor Katie Flanagan

In this cross-disciplinary study, we will correlate inflammatory status and epigenetic monocyte programming, with depression in young and elderly, male and female volunteers. Our laboratory uses world-class big data ‘omics’ analysis of blood immune cells, including RNAseq, epigenetics, multicolour flow cytometry (up to 27 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (Luminex) as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional T cell assays. Multiple project streams and scholarships available.

Co-supervised by Dr Kirsty Wilson and Professor Katie Flanagan

Understanding the interactions of nanoengineered particles with specific cells is necessary to unlock their medicinal utility. Upon exposure to biological fluids (e.g., human blood), nanoparticles adsorb proteins, resulting in the formation of a “biomolecular corona”. This corona modulates downstream biological responses, including recognition by immune cells. Resolving the complexity of human plasma has been a major barrier to understanding the role of corona on biological response. In this project, we combine particle engineering, comprehensive proteomics analysis, and whole human blood immune assays to investigate the relationships between particle design, protein corona composition, and the association of particles with human immune cells. The candidate will be trained in the area of nanoscience and nanotechnology and immunology to learn key skills in synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials, nano-bio interactions and immunology.

The PhD will further participate in established collaborations with other leading nanotechnology laboratories across multiple Institutions such as The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, and WEHI. The scholarship is part of a high profile, interdisciplinary, discovery project being conducted in collaboration with researchers from highly ranked universities and institutes. Scholarships are available.

Co-supervised by Dr David Yi Ju.

This study aims to examine the immune response to vaccines using various nanoparticle formulations and adjuvant combinations and determine how they interact with cells of the immune system to generate a strong immune response, capable of protecting against severe diseases such as ovarian cancer or malaria.
Our laboratory uses new and standard cell biology/immunology techniques to assess the phenotype and function of immune cells from animal models, including multicolour flow cytometry (up to 27 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (Luminex), IVIS imaging, as well as ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology/immunofluorescence, proliferation and functional T cell assays. There is also potential scope to use RNAseq and epigenetic analysis of immune cell populations, and animal models of cancer and malaria.

Multiple project streams and scholarships available.

Co-supervised by Dr Kirsty Wilson.

Current treatments for ovarian cancer are largely toxic, and ultimately, ineffective for many patients. A current collaboration between Distinguished Professor Plebanski (Health & Biomedical Sciences) and Distinguished Professor Bhargava (Science) seeks to enable clinical progression for their novel class of gold-based drugs that show superior selectivity and activity for otherwise drug-resistant cancer cells, for the treatment of ovarian cancer. As part of Professor Plebanski’s team, the PhD candidates will contribute to determining the in vitro efficacy in ovarian cancer cell lines, organoids as well as immune cells from mice and humans. The lead drug candidates will be tested in a novel immunocompetent ovarian cancer animal model; a mouse model created by Professor Plebanski and Dr Andrew Stephens (Hudson Institute) whereby fluorescent labelling of cancer cells allow for real-time study of cancer growth and treatment. Efficacy of the gold-compounds will be analysed by advanced live in-vivo imaging and immunohistochemistry. Testing in cancer organoids may further involve collaboration with leaders in the development of innovate organoids for cancer research. We are also interested in investigating the potential of gold-based drugs to modulate immune responses and thereby effectively contribute to cancer treatment. The preferred PhD candidates will have completed an Honours or Masters degree in immunology, pharmacology, biotechnology, molecular biology or related disciplines. Scholarships are available.

Co-supervised by  Distinguished Professor Suresh Bhargava (School of Science) and Dr Srinivasa Reddy Telukutla.

This project aims to identify changes in expression of key molecules that may be important to ovarian cancer immunotherapy and have wider implications for the treatment of chronic disease. We are currently interested in two natural compounds (Xanthatin and L-carnosine) that have the potential to modulate immune responses and thereby effectively contribute to cancer treatment. Our laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of blood immune cells, including RNAseq, epigenetics, multicolour flowcytometry (up to 27 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (Luminex) as well as classical immunological techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistochemistry, proliferation and functional T cell assays. Multiple project streams and scholarships available.

This project aims to pinpoint new immune-based biomarkers in blood as ovarian as ovarian cancer diagnostics and prognostics with utility in the clinic alone or combined with existing tests. These will help women be diagnosed earlier and get onto the correct treatment earlier as well, resulting in increased survival. Our laboratory uses world-class big-data omics analysis of blood immune cells, including RNAseq, epigenetics, multicolour flowcytometry (up to 27 simultaneous markers on cells), cell sorting, multiplex cytokine analysis (Luminex), and classical immune techniques, e.g. ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistology, proliferation and functional T cell assays. We use a unique ovarian cancer animal model and blood samples from multiple human clinical trials. Multiple project streams and scholarships available.

Co-supervised by Professor Clare Scott (WEHI) and Dr Andrew Stephens (Hudson Institute).

This project is part of an over-arching goal to understand cancer biology and immune responses and to translate these findings into real-world clinical benefits, such as personalised cancer vaccines. As part of this research, the lab runs several clinical trials, which the applicant could choose to be part of. Studies will utilise techniques such as germline/tumour sequencing data, plasma analysis and work with patients’ immune cells to identify key functional targets. They may perform epigenetic techniques, DNA sequencing (HLA-typing and WES), transcriptomics and immunoassays such as ELISpots. Multiple project streams and scholarships available.

Co-supervised by Professor Clare Scott (WEHI) and Dr Andrew Stephens (Hudson Institute).

Chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction are major drivers of cancer development and progression. These factors are also influenced by metabolic and nutritional status, previous infections such as CMV and the age of the patient. Additionally, molecular changes such as mutations and epigenetic reprogramming of the cancer cells support cancer cell escape from the immune surveillance. This project is designed to unravel the complex chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction pathways influenced by such factors, across multiple cohorts of cancer biobanks and our phase I and Phase II human clinical trials that are significant to cause cancer progression or conversely a positive response to cancer treatment. We will also investigate epigenetic and transcriptomic changes related to cancer and the immune system, to understand the molecular pathways as well as to pinpoint possibilities of using the identified changes as biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic markers or targets of treatment, as well as to optimise treatment. Our projects focus on ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynaecological malignancy, given there is a great and urgent need for early diagnosis and for better treatments that are able to prevent or treat a usually lethal cancer recurrence.

PhDs will have opportunities to learn advanced cellular and molecular immunology techniques, including multiple cutting-edge technologies such as multi-parameter flow cytometry, epigenetic profiling, blood factor multiplex profiling as well as fundamental skills in cell culture, and human clinical trial sample processing and biobanking from diverse tissues, as well as interact across the dynamic CAVA Lab in multiple projects ranging from in vitro drug discovery, omics and bioinformatics and cell culture and animal models of disease and therapy. Scholarships are available.

Co-supervised by Dr April Kartikasari.

This project compares the immune systems of healthcare workers that did, or did not, contract COVID-19, and how changes in their immunity may underlie long-term complications such as long COVID-19.

Co-supervised by Prof. Katie Flanagan.

This project compares acute and mild COVID-19 patients over a time course to understand how the virus may be breaking tolerance and causing new autoimmune pathologies.

Co-supervised by Dr. Kirsty Wilson.

This project investigates boosting immunity to COVID-19 with different vaccines to promote broad immune responses that recognize viral escape variants. It involves a multi-institutional large scale human trial to address these vital questions. Scholarship available.

Co-supervised by Prof. Katie Flanagan and Dr. Jennifer Boer.

This project investigates reactivity to PEG in mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, as well as other medical products and the implications on vaccine efficacy and potential to induce allergic reactions. Scholarship available.

Co-supervised by Dr. David Yu and Dr. Jennifer Boer.