Overcoming Metabolic Reprogramming by Non Hodgkin Lymphoma to Improve Adoptive Cellular Immunotherapies

Principal Advisor: Professor Maher Gandhi

Organisational unit: Mater Research Institute-UQ

Metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells is an established hallmark of malignancy. It is increasingly recognized that these metabolic alterations dramatically impact the anti-tumour immune response predisposing to treatment failure and progressive disease. This 4-year laboratory based study will attempt to better characterise the metabolic alterations seen in non-Hodgkin lymphoma in both cancer and the immune environment and how this leads to immune escape. Cell based assays will then be performed to interrupt this process, restoring effective anti-tumour immunity in T cells. Finally these findings will be implemented using ex-vivo clinical samples from an innovative clinical trial to describe novel approaches to overcome treatment failure of adoptive T-cell therapies.

This research program will provide the successful candidate with training in functional laboratory cellular biology techniques including co-culture assays, flow cytometry and cell-sparing metabolomic assays. Practical expertise in library preparation and sequencing as well as support and training in dry lab analysis of sequencing data will also be provided. The laboratory places an emphasis on development of scientific writing and presentation skills and has a strong track record of successful, high-impact publications amongst HRD students.

Prerequisite skills: Basic science background preferred but not essential. Particularly familiarity with cell culture techniques, flow cytometry and basic statistical analysis would advantageous.