Dr Laura Cook of the University of Melbourne, a senior research fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Doherty Institute, has received funding from the AMP Foundation to support her research exploring how to improve the immune system’s ability to develop memory and protect against bacteria and bacteria. viral infection
Dr. Cook has been studying the contribution of T cells, specifically helper CD4+ T cells, to human immune memory responses for 12 years in Canada and Australia.
Their work discovered that a unique population of these cells, called regulatory T cells, unexpectedly comprised a significant portion (30-80%) of the helper T cell memory response. Regulatory T cells are generally thought to be an immunosuppressive cell, but recent studies have highlighted new roles in wound healing/tissue repair and enhancing the development of immune memory.
Cook said the AMP Tomorrow Fund grant will help uncover fundamental insights critical to the development of better immunotherapies and vaccines to reduce the burden of infectious diseases.
“I will use cutting-edge cell culture technology to grow 3D mini-human organs, called organoids, together with immune cells to study the contribution and function of T cells in developing immune memory in our bodies,” explained Dr. Cook.
“In doing so, my research will uncover which functions of memory helper T cells guide the development of effective memory, leading to the development of more effective treatment and prevention strategies for infectious diseases.
“This new, fully human environment ensures that the findings can be directly translated into vaccine design and efficacy studies of new immune therapies,” said Dr. Cook.
Congratulations to all the AMP Tomorrow Makers announced today. More information here.