Dr Lachlan Moldenhauer

• Qualifications

  PhD (2008), Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide.
  Thesis entitled: Pathways of paternal antigen presentation to initiate antigen-specific immune responses in pregnancy'
  Supervisors; Prof. Sarah Robertson and Dr John Hayball

  Bachelor of Science Honours 1st Class (2003), Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide.

  Bachelor of Science (2002), University of Adelaide.

• Awards & Achievements

  International Awards:

  • 2010 Winner of the New Investigator Award at the International Congress for Reproductive Immunology. Cairns, Australia (AU$1000).
  • 2009 Finalist in the Young Investigator Award for the International Federation of Placenta Associations conference, Adelaide, Australia.
  • 2009 Lalor prize, The Society for the Study of Reproduction Conference. Pittsburgh, United States (US$500).
  • 2006 Most outstanding oral presentation at the 3rd International Conference on Experimental and Clinical and Reproductive Immunobiology. Banff, Canada (€500).

  State Awards:

  • 2008 Most outstanding oral presentation at the Australasian Society for Immunology Adelaide Retreat (AU$600).
  • 2008 Finalist in the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award (AU$3000).
  • 2007 Semi-Finalist in the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award.
  • 2007 Finalist in the South Australian Science Excellence Awards in the category of Science, Education and Communication.
  • 2006 Finalist in the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award (AU$1000).
  • 2006 Winner of the Australian Society for Medical Research Ross Wishart Prize for the best presentation at the SA ASMR meeting (AU$500).
  • 2005 Semi-Finalist in the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award.
  • 2005 Most outstanding presentation at the Australasian Society for Immunology Student Meeting of SA/NT branch (AU$260).
  • 2003 Runner-up for the most outstanding presentation of the Australasian Society for Immunology Student Meeting of the SA/NT branch (AU$60).

  Institution Awards:

  • 2009 Most Outstanding Paper Published in Basic Science in the School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide (AU$500).
  • 2008 Robert Seamark Research Centre for Reproductive Health Prize. Awarded to the most outstanding graduating Obstetrics and Gynaecology PhD student (AU$3000).
  • 2008 Poster category finallist at the Faculty of Health Science Research Expo, University of Adelaide.
  • 2004 awarded Adelaide University Health Sciences PhD Scholarship.
  • 2003 Reproductive Medicine Unit Honours Scholarship ($3000).
  • 2002 Summer Vacation Scholarship, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adelaide University (AU$1250).

  Travel Grants:

  • 2010 Research Centre for Reproductive Health Travel Grant to attend the International Congress for Immunology, Kobe, Japan (AU$1000).
  • 2009 Society for the Study of Reproduction Larry Ewing Memorial Trainee Travel Fund to attend the Society for the Study of Reproduction  meeting in Pittsburgh, United States (US$200).
  • 2009 Research Centre for Reproductive Health Grant to attend the SSR meeting in Pittsburgh (AU$1000).
  • 2009 International Federation of Placenta Associations travel grant to attend the IFPA conference in Adelaide, Australia (US$50)
  • 2008 Research Centre for Reproductive Health Travel Grant (AU$500).
  • 2008 Healthy Development Adelaide Travel Grant (AU$1000).
  • 2008 Australasian Society for Immunology grant (AU$600). All 2008 funds were awarded to attend the ASI Conference in Canberra, Australia.
  • 2007 Society for Reproductive Biology Travel Grant (AU$300).
  • 2007 Research Centre for Reproductive Health Travel Grant. All 2007 funds were awarded to attend the SRB Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand (AU$600).
  • 2006 Adelaide University, Faculty of Health Sciences (AU$2,000).
  • Research Centre for Reproductive Health Travel Grant (AU$850).
  • Network in Genes and Environment in Development (AU$1000). All 2006 funds were awarded to attend the International Conference on Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Immunobiology Conference, Banff, Canada and visit laboratories in the UK.
  • 2005 Discipline of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Travel Grant to attend the Australasian Society for Immunology Conference in Melbourne, Australia (AU$500).
  • 2003 Australasian Society for Immunology Travel Scholarship to attend the ASI Conference in Perth, Australia (AU$730). 

• Teaching Interests

  Student Supervision:

  • Norsyifa Harun - 1st Class Honours (2010), Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide.
  • Siti Noor - 1st Class Honours (2010), Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide.

  Lecturing:

  • Invited Lecturer for 3rd year Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Program, University of South Australia. 2006, 2007 and 2009.

• Research Interests

  Introduction of foreign tissue, such as an organ transplant, into the body usually initiates an immune response leading to rejection of that tissue. Half of the genetic material (known as antigens) of the fetus is derived from the father. As such, the fetus is considered to be a foreign tissue by the mother's immune system, therefore making it a potential target for immune rejection. In healthy pregnancies the mother's immune system is tolerant towards these paternal-derived antigens produced by the ‘foreign' fetus and therefore immune rejection does not occur. However, failure of the mother's immune system to establish tolerance can result in a number of reproductive health problems including infertility, miscarriage or pre-term birth.

  My research examines the interactions between the cells of the immune system and immune-controlling molecules, called cytokines, and how they can drive the mother's immune response to either tolerance or rejection of the fetus.

  More specifically, I am interested the mechanisms by which paternal antigens within the semen and produced by the fetus and placenta are processed and presented by macrophages and dendritic cells to the maternal T cell repertoire, including regulatory T cells, to establish antigen-specific immune tolerance. In addition, I study the influence of the uterine cytokine environment, particularly IL10, TGFB and CSF2, on macrophage, dendritic cells and T cell phenotype, function and their role in tolerance induction.

• Publications

  Peer-reviewed publications:

  Wu Y, Lousberg EL, Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA, Coller JK, Watkins LR, Somogyi AA, Hutchinson MR. Attenuating microglial and IL-1 signaling protects mice from acute al alcohol-induced sedation and/or motor impairment
  Brain, Behavior and Immunity. Submitted Nov 2010. IF: 5.061; Cit: 0

  Guerin LR, Prins JR, Bromfield JJ, Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Seminal fluid regulates accumulation of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in the pre-implantation mouse uterus through both expanding the FOXP3+ cell pool and CCL19-mediated recruitment
  Biology of Reproduction. Accepted Oct 2010. IF: 3.469; Cits: 0

  Moldenhauer LM, Keenihan SN, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. GM-CSF is an essential regulator of antigen presenting competence in uterine dendritic cells during early pregnancy in mice
  Journal of Immunology. 2010. 185(11):7085-96. IF 5.646; Cits: 0

  Chua ACL, Hodson LJ, Moldenhauer LM, Robertson SA, Ingman WV. Dual roles for macrophages in ovarian cycle-associated development and remodelling of the mammary gland epithelium
  Development. 2010. 137(24):4229-38. IF: 7.200; Cits: 0

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Utilising T cell receptor transgenic mice to define mechanisms of maternal T cell tolerance in pregnancy
  Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 2010. 87(1-2):1-13. IF 2.519; Cits: 0

  Moldenhauer LM, Diener KR, Brown MP, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Maternal cross-presentation of male seminal fluid antigens elicits T cell activation in preparation for pregnancy
  Journal of Immunology. 2009. 182(12):8080-8093. IF 6.068; Cits: 9

  Robertson SA, Guerin LR, Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD. Activating T regulatory cells for tolerance in early pregnancy - the contribution of seminal fluid
  Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 2009. 83(1-2):109-116. IF 3.011; Cits: 3

  Diener KR, Moldenhauer LM, Lyons AB, Brown MP, Hayball JD. Human Flt-3-ligand-mobilized dendritic cells require additional activation to drive effective immune responses
  Experimental Hematology. 2008. 36:51-60. IF 3.147; Cits: 9

   

  Conference abstracts and presentations:

  
  International:

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Mechanisms of seminal fluid and conceptus-derived paternal antigen presentation to the maternal T cell repertoire. International Congress of Immunology. Kobe, Japan. Poster presentation. August 2010.

  Moldenhauer LM, Keenihan SN, Hayball JD, Robertson SA.
  GM-CSF regulates uterine macrophage and dendritic cell maturation and antigen presentation. International Congress for Reproductive Immunology. Cairns, Australia. Oral Presentation. August 2010.

  Guerin LR, Moldenhauer LM, Prins JR, Bromfield JJ, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Seminal fluid regulates the uterine Foxp3+ T regulatory cell population through CCL19-mediated recruitment during the peri-implantation period in mice. International Congress for Reproductive Immunology. Cairns, Australia. Poster Presentation. August 2010.

  Moldenhauer LM, Thring DM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Shed placental antigens are cross-presented by maternal dendritic cells in pregnancy. International Federation of Placenta Associations Conference. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. October 2009.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. T cell phenotype in early pregnancy determines pregnancy success. International Federation of Placenta Associations Conference. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. October 2009.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Immune-deviating cytokines determine the maternal T cell response and conceptus tolerance or rejection. Society for the Study of Reproduction 42nd Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, United States. Oral presentation. July 2009.

  Robertson SA, Guerin LR, Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD. Activating T regulatory cells for tolerance in early pregnancy - the contribution of seminal fluid. International Congress on Bio-Immunoregulatory Mechanisms Associated with Reproductive Organs. Oral Presentation. February 2009.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. In vivo priming to paternal antigens is consistent with successful pregnancy outcome. Society of Reproductive Biology 38th Annual Conference. Christchurch, New Zealand. Oral presentation. September 2007.

  Robertson SA, Moldenhauer LM, Hudson-Keenihan SN, Hayball JD. GM-CSF is an essential regulator of uterine dendritic cells in early pregnancy. International Federation of Placenta Associations 13th Annual Conference. Kingston, Canada. Poster presentation. August 2007.

  Robertson SA, Moldenhauer LM, Guerin LR, Bromfield JJ, Hayball JD. Role of male seminal factors in establishing maternal immune tolerance for pregnancy. International Society for Immunology of Reproduction 10th Congress. Opatija, Croatia. Oral presentation. June 2007.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Systemic maternal awareness of conceptus antigens in pregnancy. Society of Gynecologic Investigation 54th Annual Scientific Meeting. Reno, United States. Oral presentation. March 2007.

  Robertson SA, Moldenhauer LM, Guerin LR, Bromfield JJ, Hayball JD. Activating tolerance in the female reproductive tract; immune response for pregnancy. Australasian Society for Immunology 36th Annual Conference. Auckland, New Zealand. Oral presentation. December 2006.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Conceptus antigens activate the maternal immune response in pregnancy utilising maternal antigen presenting cells. Journal of Reproductive Immunology 3rd International Conference on Experimental and Clinical Reproductive Immunobiology. Banff, Canada. November 2006.

  National:

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Immune-deviating cytokines determine the maternal T cell response during pregnancy and tolerance or rejection of the conceputs. Society for Reproductive Biology Conference. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. August 2009.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Cross-presentation of paternal seminal fluid antigens activates maternal T cell tolerance during pregnancy. Australasian Society for Immunology 38th Annual Conference. Canberra, Australia. Oral presentation. December 2008

  Robertson SA, Sharkey DJ, Bromfield JJ, Moldenhauer LM, Jasper MJ, Guerin LR, Care AS, Hayball JD. Seminal plasma and male factor signalling for female tolerance of pregnancy. Society of Reproductive Biology 39th Annual Conference. Melbourne, Australia. Oral presentation. August 2008.

  Robertson SA, Moldenhauer LM, Hudson-Keenihan SN, Hayball JD. GM-CSF is an essential regulator of uterine dendritic cells in early pregnancy. Australasian Society for Immunology 37th Annual Conference. Sydney, Australia. Poster presentation. December 2007.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Conceptus antigens systemically prime a maternal immune response. Network in Genes and Development in Environment Annual Forum. Palm Cove, Australia. Oral presentation. June 2007.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Conceptus antigen systemically priming the maternal immune system. Australasian Society for Immunology 35th Annual Conference. Melbourne, Australia. Poster presentation. December 2005.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Paternal-derived antigen processing and presentation in the mouse uterus. Australasian Society for Immunology 34th Annual Conference. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. December 2004.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Development of a transgenic T cell model to determine the presence of paternal MHC class I in the murine uterus after insemination. Australian Society for Medical Research, Annual National Conference. Adelaide, Australia. Poster presentation. December 2003.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Development of a transgenic T cell model to determine the presence of paternal MHC class I in the murine uterus after insemination. Australasian Society for Immunology 33rd Annual Conference. Perth, Australia. Poster presentation. December 2003.

  State:

  Moldenhauer LM. Why mum has to be tolerant of you . . . even before you're born! Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award Final. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. Novemeber 2008.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Appropriate activation of the mother's immune response during pregnancy is critical to fetal survival. Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award Semi Final. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. September 2008.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Paternal antigen-reactive T cells are activated during pregnancy but do not develop anti-fetal immunity. Australasian Society for Immunology 4th Adelaide Immunology Retreat. Normanville, Australia. August 2008.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Maternal T cell priming to paternal antigens is consistent with normal fetal and placental development. Australian Society for Medical Research South Australian Meeting. Adelaide, Australia. Poster presentation. June 2008.

  Thring DM, Moldenhauer LM, Diener KR, Hayball JD. The role of maternal dendritic cells in the processing and presentation of paternal antigen during pregnancy. Australian Society for Medical Research South Australian Meeting. Adelaide, Australia. Poster presentation. June 2008.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Maternal T cell priming to paternal antigens is consistent with normal fetal and placental development. University of Adelaide, Faculty Health Science Research Expo. Adelaide, Australia. Poster presentation. June 2008.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Activation of maternal T cell tolerance ensures successful pregnancy outcomes. Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award Semi-Final. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. September 2007.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. GM-CSF is an essential regulator of uterine antigen presenting cells in early pregnancy. Australian Society for Medical Research South Australian Annual Meeting. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. June 2007.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Male seminal fluid antigens activate a T cell response tolerant of pregnancy. University of Adelaide, Faculty of Health Science, Research Expo. Adelaide, Australia. Poster presentation. June 2007.

  Moldenhauer LM. Why mum has to be tolerant of you . . . even before you're born! Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award Final. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. October 2006.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Orchestrating the mother's immune response to establish healthy pregnancy. Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award Semi-Final. Adelaide, Australia. September 2006.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Conceptus antigens activate the maternal immune response in pregnancy utilising maternal antigen presenting cells. Healthy Development Adelaide early Career Research Symposium. Adelaide, Australia. Oral Presentation. November 2006.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Paternal antigen activation of the maternal immune system in pregnancy. Australasian Society for Immunology 2nd Adelaide Immunology Retreat. Mylor, Australia. Oral presentation, September 2006.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Cellular mechanisms for paternal antigen activation of the maternal immune system in pregnancy. Australian Society for Medical Research South Australian Annual Meeting. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. June 2006.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. The activation of the maternal immune system to paternal antigens associated with the ejaculate and conceptus. Australasian Society for Immunology 12th Student Meeting SA/NT branch. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. November 2005.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Female recognition of male antigens in pregnancy. Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award Semi-Final. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. September 2005.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Paternal-derived antigen: processing and presentation in the mouse uterus. Australasian Society for Immunology 1st Adelaide Immunology Retreat. Tanunda, Australia. Oral presentation. September 2005.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Paternal-derived antigen processing and presentation in the mouse uterus. Australian Society for Medical Research South Australian Annual Meeting. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. June 2005.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Maternal GM-CSF is required for optimal paternal antigen presentation in the uterus. Australasian Society for Immunology 11th Student Meeting. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. November 2004.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Antigen processing and presentation in the mouse uterus. Australian Society for Medical Research South Australian Annual Meeting. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. June 2004.

  Moldenhauer LM, Hayball JD, Robertson SA. Development of a transgenic T cell model to assess immune responses to paternal antigen. Australasian Society for Immunology Meeting SA/NT branch. Adelaide, Australia. Oral presentation. November 2003.

• Professional Associations

  Journal Reviewer

  • Reproduction (2008 - current)
  • Placenta (2010 - current)
  • Journal of Reproductive Immunology (2010 - current)

  Society Membership

  • Australian Society for Medical Research (2003 - current)
  • Australasian Society for Immunology (2003 - current)
  • Society for Reproductive Biology (2007 - current)
  • Society for the Study of Reproduction (2009 - current) 

  Event Organisation
  

  • Current member of the organising committee for the 2011 Australasian Society for Immunology Conference in Adelaide. Treasurer and sponsorship coordinator.
  • Member of the organising committee for the 2010 Australian Society for Immunology Adelaide Retreat. Tanunda, Australia. September 2010.
  • Audio-Visual and Information Technology organisation for the International Congress for Reproductive Immunology. Cairns, Australia. August 2010.
  • Member of the organising committee for World Immunology Day Adelaide 2007.
  • 2005 Co-organiser and Chair of the 12th Australasian Society for Immunology SA/NT branch student meeting.

• Community Engagement

  2009

  • Invited to speak to speak at a public seminar on reproductive immunology and potential therapeutics. Women's and Children's Hospital (Adelaide).

  2008

  • Finalists in the Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award involved conveying my research to the public and was judged by journalists.

  2007

  • A member of the organising committee for World Immunology Day Adelaide. This involved interactive displays and lectures for the public on various aspects of basic and clinical immunology at the South Australian Museum.
  • Newspaper article in the "Can you Believe it?" column of the Adelaide Advertiser, entitled "Friend or Foe? Why mum needs to be tolerant, even before you're born". June 23rd 2007.
  • Member of the Australian Society for Medical Research "Wheelin' Out Science" Team. The program involved promoting medical research and careers in science to year 10, 11 and 12 students at metropolitan and rural schools. This including telling students about our own career pathways and doing a number of interactive laboratory-based experiments with the students.
  • University of Adelaide "Careers in Science" Professional Development Day. As part of the "Wheelin' Out Science" team we ran laboratory demonstrations for metropolitan and rural school science teachers to encourage the promotion of careers in science to their students.
  • The "Wheelin' Out Science" program gained coverage in the following media;
    - Gawler Bunyip (newspaper)
    - The Northern Suburbs Messenger (newspaper)
    - The Leader Newspaper Tanunda
    - The Adelaidean (newspaper)
    - Weekend Australian - feature lift-out section on the ASMR (newspaper)
    - Studio interview with Radio Adelaide (101.5 FM)
  • The "Wheelin' out Science" program contributed to the Australian Society for Medical Research being a finalist in the South Australian Science Excellence Awards in the category of Science.

  2006

  • South Australian Division Australian Society for Medical Research committee for the annual public Expo. This involved interactive displays set up in the city centre to educate the community about the work done by the ASMR and medical research in South Australia.
  • Finalists in the Women's and Children's Hospital Young Investigator Award involved conveying my research to the public and was judged by journalists. This involved a TV interview with Channel 9 News and a radio interview with Radio Adelaide (101.5 FM).

   

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 29 Mar 2022

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