Prof Tom Kay

Research Unit

Immunology

Information

Executive Director

Professional Experience

1978    B Med Sci, University of Melbourne
1980    MBBS, University of Melbourne
1987    Fellowship, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
1989    PhD, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, University of Melbourne
1993    Fellowship, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia

Achievements

89-94  Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellowship, NH&MRC
1991    Endocrine Society (USA) New Investigator Award
1992    Golden Jubilee Fellowship, RACP
1995    Viertel Foundation Clinical Investigator Award
1997    Career Development Award, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
2003    Diabetes Australia Millennium Grant Award
2004    JDRF International Mary Jane Kugel Award

Research Interests

My research group works on the immunopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. We use pancreatic beta cells and T cells purified from genetically-modified mice to investigate the role of perforin, death receptors and inflammatory cytokines in beta cell death and diabetes. Our team also identified the primary role of autoimmune recognition of proinsulin in type 1 diabetes and we are developing antigen-specific therapies to prevent diabetes. I also lead a Melbourne-wide clinical islet transplant program that began treating diabetic patients by infusion of isolated islet cells in 2006. It is hoped that a detailed knowledge of how beta cells are destroyed in our research studies will indicate the most effective forms of immunoprotection and could eventually allow beta cell replacement as a treatment for type 1 diabetic patients without systemic immunosuppression.

Selected Publications