Immunopathology Research

Immunopathology Research focuses on the connection between the immune system and the onset of chronic inflammatory diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes.

In these diseases secretory cells usually experience high rates of protein misfolding that triggers a failure in the synthesis and secretion of proteins and to a state of oxidative stress, which ultimately leads to inflammation. A/Prof Sumaira Hasnain discovered that certain inflammatory cytokines produced by the immune system can potently initiate stress pathways by inducing oxidative stress and protein misfolding, whilst other cytokines suppress stress and facilitate protein folding.

Fuelled by this landmark discovery, the Immunopathology Group is now exploring new avenues for therapeutical treatment of these diseases by characterising and manipulating a range of novel immune factors in pre-clinical models of these immune-driven pathologies.