Current research projects in allergy and genetic immunology

Project 1: Determining a child's predisposition to allergic disease

The aim of this research project is to predetermine an infant's susceptibility to allergic disease before he/she is born. To do this, we are attempting to identify those proteins in white blood cells that are responsible for guiding the maturation of the immune system, and establish whether or not these proteins dictate how well a child might respond to allergic disease later on in life.

We see the prenatal period as a window of opportunity to "tune" the immune system and moderate any imbalances that might lead to disease as the child grows up. It is our hope that this research will lead to new preventative measures that will ensure the development of a healthy immune system for all children.

So far our research has confirmed that a particular signalling enzyme in white blood cells can in fact be used to gauge the risk of a baby developing an allergic disease later on in childhood. This finding is now being developed into a simple prenatal test to identify a child's predisposition to inflammatory disease.

Started in 2005, this research project is funded by a $525,000 grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council and involves five researchers led by Professor Antonio Ferrante, leader of the Allergy and Genetic Immunology Stream at the Children's Research Centre and Head of Immunopathology at SA Pathology, based at the Women's and Children's Hospital.

Project 2: Using fish oils to counter the effect of autoimmune and allergic diseases

Fish oils have long been used to counter imbalances in the immune system and prevent coronary heart disease, despite continuing debate surrounding its benefits.

Derived from the tissues of oily fish, fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation throughout the body: this research project aims to discover exactly how omega-3 fats calm severe allergic reactions and how its medicinal properties can be optimised for more effective treatment of autoimmune disorders.

To date we have made substantial progress in the development of new and more selective omega-3 combinations that treat diabetes, obesity, kidney disease and allergies with greater success than existing supplements. In addition, these new treatments are proven to better protect bodily organs from the damage inflicted by "rogue" immune systems.

Started in 1992, this research projects involves nine researchers led by Professor Antonio Ferrante, leader of the Allergy and Genetic Immunology Stream at the Children's Research Centre, and his colleague Associate Professor Charles Hii, an allergist at the Women's and Children's Hospital. It is funded by two projects grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council worth $950,000 and a further $260,000 in combined funding from the National Heart Foundation, the Women's and Children's Hospital Research Foundation and the Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation.

Project 3: Innovating safer approaches to the treatment of inflammation

The aim of this project is to pioneer a new and improved method of treating the inflammation caused by cystic fibrosis, arthritis and asthma, while preserving the body's natural defence mechanisms.

The hormone that induces inflammation is called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The role of TNF is to use swelling and heat to inhibit viral replication: current treatments for inflammation work by blocking TNF's inflammatory action. Unfortunately these treatments also block TNF's ability to fight infection and cancer. Having been able to identify those parts of the TNF receptor that control favourable versus unfavourable actions, we are now in the process of innovating a new treatment for inflammation that protects the healing properties of TNF while inhibiting its inflammatory properties.

Started in 1998, this research project has received ongoing funding from industry and the National Health and Medical Research Council since its inception, and has since received $50,000 in further support from the Women's and Children's Hospital Research Foundation. It involves five researchers led by Professor Antonio Ferrante, leader of the Allergy and Genetic Immunology Stream at the Children's Research Centre and Head of Immunopathology at SA Pathology. Importantly, this project has generated a major patent, Neutrophil Stimulating Peptides, US Patent 6375928, Rathjen DA & Ferrante A.