Research

Our research streams are contained within three clusters: immune therapy, immune tolerance and inherited diseases. We cover a broad range of activity, including viral immunity (vaccines and therapies) and various strands of immunoregulation.

Immune therapy

We study immunity to viruses that remain leading global causes of morbidity and mortality: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and SARS-CoV-2. By dissecting how these viruses evade host immunity and by distinguishing protective from pathogenic immune responses, we can inform development of urgently needed vaccines and immunotherapies.

Scanning electron microscope image of 'super' T-cell (immunity cell) that has been engineered to become a cancer fighting T-cell.

Cancer immunology

Antiviral vaccines and therapies

Protective and dysfunctional antiviral immunity

Immune tolerance

We seek to understand more about the mechanisms behind the function of T & B cells, autoimmune diseases, the complexity of the immunity system, and tissue immunity from disease sites. Our aim is to tackle overreaction or erroneous behaviours, and to develop better vaccine designs, biomarkers and targeted immunotherapies.

Autoimmunity and inflammation

Computational immunology

T & B cell development and function

Novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov2) in red and blue (NIH)

Tissue immunity

Two surgeons in protective equipment operating under surgical lights

Transplantation

Inherited disease

We study inborn errors of immunity (IEI), rare inherited diseases that result in immunodeficiency and/or autoimmunity, inflammation and malignancy. The number of identified genes that cause IEI continues to grow. We aim to explore the mechanisms by which specific gene mutations in IEI cause immunological diseases and use this knowledge to develop new therapies.