Infection, cancer and autoimmune diseases appear to have little in common. However, a newly discovered white blood cell type called TH17 may have major roles in all three types of diseases.

These cells normally fight infection but also appear to promote destructive inflammation in autoimmune disease or inflammation that assists cancer cell growth.

Burnet Institute is trying to find out why the immune system attacks normal cells it should ignore in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, but in cancer ignores the cells it should attack, and how is it that infectious agents avoid immune destruction.

Current Projects

• A unique approach to anti-inflammatory immune therapy
  Next Generation monoclonal antibody therapies targeting the inhibitory FcR.
• Antibody mAbs to destroy infection: engineering the next generation treatments
  Applying discoveries from our cancer mAb program to neutralize and destroy pathogens.
• Barriers to hepatocellular carcinoma screening uptake in Victoria
  In this study, we explore barriers to hepatocellular carcinoma screening adherence.
• Discovery of new treatments for myeloma and myelogenous leukemia
  We are developing monoclonal antibodies against new biomakers to treat blood cancers.
• Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency
  This project involves the Richards Group and Global Health Diagnostic Development.
• IgA and staphyloccocal aureus immune evasion
  Staphylococcus aureus, or the golden staph, is a major pathogen of humans. We are investigating how this bug evades the immune system.
• New approaches to the treatment of lupus
  Research into an early intervention diagnostic test for Lupus, which is particularly dangerous to women.
• Understanding the connection between inflammation and cancer
  Defining the relationship between inflammation and cancer with the aim of developing new therapies.

Past Projects

• Characterising the cause of human inflammation in autoimmune disease
  Antibodies activate and modulate normal immunity but can also trigger destructive information.
• Discovery of new cell surface biomarkers of Th17 and Th1 cells
  We are researching the cause of inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and disease
  To determine whether gammaretroviruses are associated with prostate cancer.