Speaker: Dr Tony Kenna, Queensland University of Technology
Venue: Baddiley Clark Seminar Room
Date: Monday 19th September, 2016
Time: 16.30 -17.30
Dr Tony Kenna will present:
“Immune mapping” in ankylosing spondylitis: challenges of translating GWAS to functional immunology
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE AND VISION
My research career has focussed on human immunology and functional characterisation of novel genes in autoinflammatory disease. For the past 6 years I have been particularly focused on pathways of inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and related immune-mediated diseases. My research productivity in this area is impressive, of my 18 publications since 2011 14 have been in the area of AS research. I work closely with clinicians and have established a curated biobank of cells, serum, RNA, DNA and gut biopsies from over 400 AS patients and 200 healthy controls with which to interrogate altered immune function in patients relative to healthy individuals. I have also used this biobank to investigate fundamental biology of the immune response. I lead a highly skilled and motivated group of research professionals and students.
My work enriches our fundamental knowledge of human immunology and will likely lead to identification of novel therapeutic candidates.
Chair: Professor John Isaacs
