Current research projects in autoimmune diseases
Project 1: Unravelling the genes that cause autoimmune disease
The purpose of this research project is to identify and treat disease-causing genes in patients suffering from autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.
We hope to achieve this by comparing healthy immune cells with the immune cells of patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, and revealing their differences. Researchers at the Children's Research Centre are already the first in the world to have identified all of the genes necessary for immune tolerance: this project goes one step further by attempting to isolate and remedy the defective genes that cause autoimmune disease, using state-of-the-art genome wide array technologies.
Begun in 2006, our research is being carried out at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, in collaboration with the John Curtin School for Medical Research at the Australian National University and the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle (United States). It is funded by a $549,000 project grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council and involves four researchers led by Associate Professor Simon Barry, leader of the Autoimmune Diseases Stream at the Children's Research Centre and Head of the Molecular Immunology Laboratory at the University of Adelaide. This project addresses two of our national health priority areas: arthritis and diabetes mellitus.
Project 2: A new way of diagnosing type 1 diabetes
This project aims to test whether or not a new gene found in healthy immune cells can be used to detect the early onset of diabetes, and if it has a second use in measuring the success of current diabetes treatments. If we are able to prove that the gene is a successful "biomarker" (diagnostic tool), physicians around the world will be able to detect diabetes at a much earlier stage and initiate treatment before the disease becomes severe. A new biomarker may also allow the isolation of healthy immune cells for infusion into diabetes patients, which may "reset" the immune system and reverse the disease completely.
This project uses a state-of-the-art antibody technology know as Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS), which can identify rare cells in human blood at high speed and help us isolate them for culture or infusion into a patient.
Started in 2009, our research is being carried out in partnership with the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Women's and Children's Hospital. The project has received a $48,000 grant from the Women's and Children's Hospital Foundation and involves four researchers, including the Children's Research Centre's inaugural fellow, Dr John Welch. Led by Associate Professor Simon Barry, leader of the Autoimmune Diseases Stream at the Children's Research Centre and Head of the Molecular Immunology Laboratory at the University of Adelaide, this project addresses our national health priority area of diabetes mellitus.
Project 3: Stem cell therapy for autoimmune diseases
The aim of this research project is to develop an innovative new treatment for autoimmune disease using stem cells taken from the blood found in the umbilical cord of babies. As part of this research, we have already demonstrated that stem cells from "cord blood" can be cultured in the lab and converted into healthy immune cells (known as regulatory T cells or Treg). These healthy immune cells can then be infused into patients to reset their immune systems and reverse the disease that causes immune attacks.
This project uses a state-of-the-art antibody technology know as Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) to isolate the cord blood stem cells and develop the cell culture to grow the healthy immune cells. If successful, this new immune cell therapy could be a breakthrough in the treatment of autoimmune disease.
Initiated in 2007, our research is being carried out at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, in partnership with the Department of Haematology at the Hanson Institute of South Australia. Funded by a $300,000 Linkage grant from the Australian Research Council, the project involves two researchers led by Associate Professor Simon Barry, leader of the Autoimmune Diseases Stream at the Children's Research Centre and Head of the Molecular Immunology Laboratory at the University of Adelaide. This project addresses three of our national health priority areas: arthritis, cancer control and diabetes mellitus.
