Immunology

Research in Immunology seeks to better understand the normal and abnormal mechanisms underlying the body’s many different responses to infection, injury, medical treatments and natural changes that occur over a lifetime such as pregnancy, embryonic development, growth and aging. Central to this research discipline are experimental approaches to studying the specialised organs, cells and molecules that together make up the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. In addition, it has also become clear that virtually all cells and tissues of the body participate in immune responses through genetic programmes referred to as inflammation and by engaging in molecular interactions (“cross-talk”) with professional immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, T cells and B cells. Over a period of more than 200 years, the field of immunology has made remarkable contributions to human health including vaccination; diagnosis and treatment of infection, allergy and autoimmune disease; organ and tissue transplantation and, most recently, targeted treatments for cancer. 

The REMEDI Immunology Research Programme

Immunology research at REMEDI is highly collaborative and focusses on several areas that are fundamental to the development of advanced therapies for major unmet health challenges such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, eye disease, bone and joint disease, kidney disease, cancer and sepsis. These areas include: (a) Innate and adaptive immune responses that influence the safety, longevity and regenerative properties of stem cells, biomaterials, tissue transplants and medical devices. (b) Mechanisms of interaction between mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and specialised immune cells including macrophages, dendritic cells, effector T cells and regulatory T cells. (c) The distinctive immunological responses to allogeneic stem cells and how they can be adapted to support transplant survival. (d) The role of MSC-like cells in suppressing anti-cancer immune responses in tumour microenvironments. (e) The development and application of immunological assays to quantify disease-associated inflammation and the potential of regenerative therapies to modulate it. (f) The immune modulatory properties of MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). REMEDI Immunology researchers also provide scientific oversight for key research methodologies including flow cytometry, cell sorting and viral gene transduction.  

Relevant Research Groups