Research within this theme focuses on immunological mechanisms involved in:

• cancer biology
• immune surveillance
• metastasis
• cancer vaccines

It includes molecular and cellular immune mechanisms, pre-clinical studies, and clinical trials in a variety of different cancers, such as:

• melanoma
• breast
• lung
• pancreatic
• ovarian 

We also work on the characterisation of the phenotype and function of T and B cell responses in cancer, dendritic cell biology, immune biomarkers, co-stimulatory pathways relevant to immune tolerance and cancer surveillance, and engineering of antibodies for cancer therapy.

Members of this research theme study the interplay between human and animal pathogens with the host immune system with particular emphasis on the respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosal surfaces.

Research approaches comprise epidemiological and clinical studies on patients and wild animals alongside mechanistic work using in vivo and vitro infection models in epithelial and antigen presenting cells.

Pathogens of interest include parasites such as schitosoma manson as well as various parasitic nematodes, bacterial pathogens such as:

• helicobacter pylori
• salmonella
• clostridium difficile
• pseudomonas aeruginosa

Work within the Inflammation Group focuses on:

• allergic
• autoimmune
• auto-inflammatory
• other non-infectious tissue damaging diseases

Specific diseases investigated include:

• asthma
• cancer
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• connective tissue diseases

Projects include studies on:

• cellular phenotypes and functions (innate and adaptive)
• genetic association studies
• molecular probing of signalling pathways
• tissue modelling

State-of-the-art technologies are employed. There is a strong emphasis on mechanistic studies, but also on translational studies to advance the early and differential diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with inflammatory diseases.

The Molecular Immunology and Immuno Bioengineering theme comprises studies of the molecular basis of immune responses and the use of novel biomaterials as immunomodulators.

Pathways of interest include type I and II interferon-mediated signalling, lectin receptors and their role in the recognition of allergens and self-molecules, the cross-talk between the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and mannose receptor pathways and how mutations in the TNF-Receptor 1 contribute to the development of TRAPS.

Research approaches comprise clinical studies on patients alongside mechanistic work using in vivo models as well as human and mouse antigen presenting cells and lymphocytes cultures.

Work within the Neuroimmunology theme focuses on different aspects of the role of the immune system in the central and peripheral nervous system.

Areas of research include the:

• mechanisms of disease susceptibility and progression in multiple sclerosis and its experimental models
• role of cannabinoids and their receptors in modulating the immune and nervous systems
• pathophysiology of nociceptive processing and the identification of novel analgesic targets for the treatment of pain
• influence of psychological factors on immunological responses to disease and interventions, including vaccines