Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
Brian Cooke
- Adjunct Professor
- brian.cooke@jcu.edu.au
Amanda Murphy
- Senior Research Fellow
- amanda.murphy@jcu.edu.au
Tessa Knox
- Principal Research Fellow
- tessa.knox@jcu.edu.au
Justin Sexton
- Adjunct Research Fellow
- justin.sexton1@jcu.edu.au
Adeshina Adekunle
- Adjunct Research Fellow
- adeshina.adekunle@jcu.edu.au
Brogan Amos
- Adjunct Research Fellow
- brogan.amos@jcu.edu.au
Rachael Ryan
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- rachael.ryan1@jcu.edu.au
Emma McBryde
- Adjunct Professor
- emma.mcbryde@jcu.edu.au
Juergen Reichardt
- Adjunct Professor
- juergen.reichardt@jcu.edu.au
Tanya Russell
- Principal Research Fellow
- tanya.russell@my.jcu.edu.au
Discovering novel drug lead molecules for inflammatory bowel disease from Australian Aboriginal tropical medicinal plants (Old ID 26510)
Roland Ruscher
01 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2024
Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a debilitating disease, which has no cure. It costs the Australian Health System billions of dollars in hospitalisation, management and lost productivity, thereby precipitating the need for novel drugs. Building on my extensive preliminary data, we aim to discover novel drug leads from Aboriginal medicinal plants, which are currently used for treating inflammatory conditions by the Mbabaram community of the Atherton Tablelands.
Tropical partnerships to strengthen health systems responses to infectious diseases threats (Old ID 23015)
Tom Burkot
01 Feb 2017 - 30 Apr 2019
The Asia Pacific Region is facing frequent threats from emerging and existing infectious diseases. The capacity to mount a timely effective response is compromised in poorly functioning health systems seen in parts of the region. The resulting vulnerability affects the whole region, including Australia. Strengthening capacity to prepare and respond to these threats is thus a shared responsibility. This proposal aims to tackle the problem through collaboration with institutions, researchers and policy makers across the region, building on long held partnerships.
Beyond Thursday Island: Expanding the current Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) control program across the Torres Strait (Old ID 26327)
Tom Burkot
10 Mar 2019 - 31 Dec 2020
Mosquitoes are uncontestably one of the deadliest animals in the world. Our project will investigate the Asian Tiger Mosquito (ATM), a major dengue vector in the TS. Outcomes of this project will directly benefit the people of FNQ. The overall purpose of this research is to investigate the ecology, distribution and dispersal of the ATM on islands in the TS. This project will gain information about the ecology, location and movement of the ATM on and between islands. This knowledge will form the basis for a potential surveillance tool for the ATM in the Torres Strait, which will reduce locally transmitted dengue and chikungunya viruses in FNQ.
Protecting north Queensland from Aedes albopictus, an exotic dengue vector, with Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSB) (Old ID 26789)
Tom Burkot
13 Mar 2020 - 12 Mar 2022
Aedes albopictus, a documented vector of dengue, Zika and chikungunya, is one of the fastest spreading invasive species worldwide, and was first detected in the Torres Strait in 2005. This pilot project will lay the foundation required to assess the feasibility of Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSB) to control Aedes albopictus. The overall objective is to determine the frequency that mosquitos’ sugar feed, a parameter critical to the success of ATSBs. This pilot data will be leveraged for funding to trial the use of ATSBs to stop Ae. albopictus from reaching the mainland.
Preclinical evaluation of phytocompounds as novel antimicrobial agents. (Old ID 27042)
Andreas Kupz
01 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2021
Through previous work funded by a FNQ Hospital Foundation Grant (JCU-QLD-838341), we have discovered two novel phytocompounds from tropical medicinal plants that show broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties against drug resistant bacterial strains that affect FNQ. To progress the development of these compounds into potential antibiotics, further pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo testing is required.
Reshaping microbiota extracellular vesicles to combat inflammatory disease. (Old ID 27567)
Roland Ruscher
01 Feb 2024 - 01 Feb 2025
Non-communicable inflammatory diseases such as type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease are rapidly increasing worldwide. Gastrointestinal helminths alleviate many inflammatory conditions but are not an ideal therapeutic. Studies suggest helminths alter the composition of our microbial communities and thus revert the gut to a healthier state. Bacteria respond to environmental changes and secrete molecules that influence our immune system. This project will investigate key changes in bacterial “secretome” (molecules and vesicles secreted by an organism) upon helminth infection, and the capacity of the helminth-shaped microbiota-secreted products to reduce inflammation. This novel concept could pave the way for entirely new bacterial-derived therapeutics for treating non-communicable inflammatory diseases.
Advancing the pre-clinical evaluation of a novel modular self-assembling and self-adjuvantin g multiepitope peptide-based nanoparticle tuberculosis vaccine candidate
Andreas Kupz
09 Dec 2024 - 09 Dec 2026
Tuberculosis is a leading infectious cause of death globally and is over-represented
in indigenous people in FNQ. BCG is the only licensed TB vaccine universally for TB
prevention in children, but fails in adults, and its protection wanes in adolescence. We have
developed a novel modular self-assembling and self-adjuvanting multiepitope peptidebased
nanoparticle tuberculosis vaccine named PNx6, which could significantly improve the
immunity and protection efficacy of BCG in a murine model when used as a booster. This
goal of this project is to analyse the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of PNx6 on human
cells to advance its clinical translation potential.
Unravelling immune heterogeneity in mycobacteria-exposed children from north Queensland
Andreas Kupz
29 Apr 2025 - 28 Apr 2026
This project aims to understand immune responses to tuberculosis (TB) in Indigenous children from Far North Queensland, particularly how BCG vaccination impacts immunity. By analyzing blood samples pre- and post-BCG, this study will identify immune markers and mechanisms that predict TB protection. Through advanced multiomic analyses, we will assess immune cell function, cytokine profiles, and genetic factors influencing individual responses to TB infection and vaccination. The expected outcomes include a clearer understanding of TB immunity in this high-risk group, informing better TB control strategies and ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes for Indigenous populations in the region.
Unravelling immune heterogeneity in mycobacteria-exposed children from north Queensland
Harindra Sathkumara Mudiyanselage
29 Apr 2025 - 28 Apr 2026
This project aims to understand immune responses to tuberculosis (TB) in Indigenous children from Far North Queensland, particularly how BCG vaccination impacts immunity. By analyzing blood samples pre- and post-BCG, this study will identify immune markers and mechanisms that predict TB protection. Through advanced multiomic analyses, we will assess immune cell function, cytokine profiles, and genetic factors influencing individual responses to TB infection and vaccination. The expected outcomes include a clearer understanding of TB immunity in this high-risk group, informing better TB control strategies and ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes for Indigenous populations in the region.
Discovery of Novel Biomarkers for Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) Infection Related Cancers - HL Study (Old ID 23629)
Denise Doolan
26 Jul 2017 - 25 Jul 2018
There is a large body of evidence indicating that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) actively contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple tumours. We hypothesize that the antibody response to EBV in individuals with and without cancer (cases and controls) using our proprietary EBV proteome array, to identify an antibody signature which predicts cancer risk. The ultimate goal is an immunodiagnostic test to identify individuals in the general population who are at high risk of developing infection-related cancers. Extending previous studies, we will probe defined samples from the HL study provided by colleagues at NIH/NCI.
Glycolipid-peptide vaccination induces liver-resident memory CD8+ T cells that protect against rodent malaria
- 2020
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Researchers:Ana Maria Valencia Hernandez
Title:
New Investigator Award at the 41st Australasian Society for Immunology International Conference
Start Date:
01 Jan 2011
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01 Jan 2010
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01 Jan 2010
Title:
First Poster Prize at Victorian Infection and Immunity Network Postgraduate Student Symposium
Start Date:
01 Jan 2009
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01 Jan 2009
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01 Jan 2009
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01 Jan 2008
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01 Jan 2009
End Date:
01 Jan 2010
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2024
Title:
National Science Week
Start Date:
01 Jan 2024
End Date:
01 Jan 2024