Our focus is on two main research areas:
- Understanding the molecular and cellular signals that promote the development and function of T and B lymphocytes
- Examining how lymphocyte function is impaired that drives the development of autoimmune disease or cancer.
Our research group is focused on understanding the molecular signalling events that coordinate the development of fully functional T and B lymphocytes. This process is crucial to the immune system as it leads to the production of fully armed lymphocytes that are capable of mounting an immune response against various pathogens and infectious diseases.
Generating fully functional lymphocytes also requires these cells to have the capacity to distinguish the body's own tissue from foreign pathogens, and failure to do so is linked to autoimmune disease and malignancy.
Doctor Raffi Gugasyan
Dr Gugasyan obtained his PhD from the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute (Melbourne) and furthered his training at the Washington University School of Medicine, St.Louis, MO, (USA). He is internationally and nationally recognised for his research on lymphocytes and the signalling circuitry within these cells that help to prevent chronic diseases such as autoimmunity and cancer.
'Inflammageing' with Dr Raffi Gugasyan
Dr Raffi Gugasyan speaks: ‘Inflammageing’ is the process of low-grade inflammation that accumulates as we age.
A by-product of inflammageing is the accumulation of an unusual B cell called age-associated B cells, which are quite prominent in the elderly. However, the production of age-associated B cells is rapidly accelerated in immunocompromised individuals - patients with primary immunodeficiency, for instance, or individuals with autoimmune disease or cancer.
What we understand is that the frequency of age-associated B cells is higher in females than males and this is best reflected in disease severity being quite prominent in females.
It's currently unknown what triggers the development of age-associated B cells, but our preliminary evidence indicates that a soluble factor called the cytokine is responsible for triggering the development of age associated B cells, which in turn secrete factors contributing to multi-organ immune-mediated damage.
In this study, we plan to identify the responsible cytokine and use cytokine-specific antibody-mediated therapy that will diminish the cytokine levels, reduce the production of age-associated B cells, and ultimately attenuate chronic inflammatory-mediated disease. Thank you. End of transcript.
Working
Group
Meet the working group. Together, we are translating research into better health, for all.
