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Laboratory Head
Professor Eric Gowans, MAppSci, PhD
Post Doctoral Fellows
Dr John Martyn, BSc(Hons), PhD
Dr Kathryn Jones, BSc(Hons), PhD
Dr David Woollard, BSc(Hons), PhD
Dr Shuo Li, PhD
Mr Philippe Latour, BSc
Honours students
Mr Anthony Cardin, BSc
Research Overview
This laboratory is undertaking studies of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) specific immune responses in HCV infected patients. In addition, we are examining the potential of novel recombinant baculoviruses as vaccine delivery vehicles with particular emphasis on the induction of immune responses to hepatitis C virus.
The laboratory is also actively involved in the development of an ongoing clinical trial to examine the safety and efficacy of specialised white blood cells (dendritic cells), which are purified from the blood of patients infected with hepatitis C virus, manipulated in the laboratory to contain hepatitis C virus antigens, then returned to the same patient. This process, known as dendritic cell immunotherapy, is currently being assessed as an alternative treatment for hepatitis C virus-infected patients whose previous interferon-based therapy was not successful.
Research Objectives
• To understand the immune response of patients to hepatitis C virus proteins
• To investigate different vaccine delivery vehicles to induce protective immunity against hepatitis C virus
• To identify regions in hepatitis C virus proteins that influence the outcome of infection, particularly with regard to the induction of regulatory T cells
• To perform clinical trials in patients with hepatitis C virus infection using dendritic cell immunotherapy
• To use animal models in vaccine and therapeutical trials
Research Highlights
• We constructed several novel recombinant baculoviruses which will be used to investigate immunity to hepatitis C virus
• We started a clinical trial to investigate the potential of dendritic cell immunotherapy to treat patients with persistent infection with hepatitis C virus
• We submitted two provisional patent applications to cover novel aspects of our work with the recombinant baculoviruses and the dendritic cell immunotherapy program