Targeting Regulatory T Cells for the Treatment of Autoimmune Renal Disease

Summary

This project will investigate the role of regulatory T cells for the treatment of autoimmunity kidney disease.   

Supervisor(s)

Professor Stephen Alexander, Dr Yuan Min Wang

Research Location

Westmead - Childrens Hospital at Westmead Clinical School

Program Type

Masters/PHD

Synopsis

Chronic Kidney Disease is one of the major causes of death in Australia. Therapeutic success with regulatory T cells (Tregs) capable of targeting autoimmune kidney disease would have major clinical implications. In the proposed study, we will use Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) T cells by redirecting them to diseased organs, protect against kidney injury. These CAR T cells will recognise renal antigens and target immune cells and antibodies to limit kidney damage. 

These studies will be highly novel as they are directed at autoimmunity rather than cancer and other T cell studies. They build on the group's previous work and suggest potential therapeutic strategies that can be translated into the clinic. These studies are based at a Centre at Westmead with the capacity to move cell therapy to clinical use and where several platforms for translational clinical therapy including gene modified stem cells, viral specific T cells, and islet transplantation are currently underway.

Keywords

Autoimmune renal disease, regulatory T cells, chronic nephropathy models.

Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is: 1966