RNA & T Cell Biology

Current research projects

• Regulation of T cell development

  Appropriate development of T cells in the T cells is essential for a functional immune system. Defects in T cell development can not only result in impaired immunity but can lead to autoimmune disease, like type 1 diabetes, or cancer, especially T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

  We are interested in uncovering the gene regulatory programs that control T cell development, particularly during the stages known as CD4-CD8- double negative. We are also interested in understanding the roles of specific antigen presenting cells guiding the T cell development.

  To investigate T cell development, we employ the latest next generation ‘omics technologies, such as single cell RNA sequencing, that allow us to analyse cells at unparalleled resolution. Gene manipulation technologies, such as RNAi, CRISPR and GM mice then enable us to probe the requirement of identified pathways.

  Specific topics include:

  1. Function of thymic-specific antigen presenting cells.
  2. T lineage identity and the intersection with leukemogenesis.
  3. Single cell RNA sequencing approaches to interrogate T cell development.
  Immunotherapies

  It is increasingly clear that the immune system interacts with many disease processes, including those that are not conventionally thought of involving the immune system, such as metabolic dysregulation and type 2 diabetes. Abnormalities or even mild immune deficiencies can have important consequences, such as an individual’s susceptibility to autoimmune disease or the likelihood of a cancer patient responding to treatments. Because of this interaction with the immune system, this provides opportunities to develop disease treatments that target or engage the specific immune cell. These are commonly known as immunotherapies.

  Our lab is interested in developing new immunotherapies for treating either autoimmune disease or cancer, and in particular, we have a long-standing interest in RNA-based technologies.

  Current research topics include:

  1. mRNA vaccines to induce tolerance in autoimmune disease.
  2. microRNA inhibitors to modify disease processes.
  3. Regulatory T cell-targeting drugs.