Background
Understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning disease is crucial to the development of diagnostics, treatments and cures for diseases including cancer, immune disorders and infectious diseases. In the Tumour Immunology laboratory, we utilise state-of-the-art structural biology techniques, including X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM), which allows us to observe atomic-level detail of proteins and molecules of viruses and the immune system. This furthers our understanding of how viruses develop cancer-related sequelae and allow us to effectively design and tailor vaccines and treatments against these diseases. Two main focuses of my research are: 1) to characterise novel, recombinant viral fusion proteins for use in vaccines for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and 2) characterisation of antibody binding to glycoproteins of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) for use in immunotherapy against EBV and EBV-associated lymphomas. Prospective students will learn a wide range of protein technology and structural biology techniques, including protein expression and purification techniques, chromatography, multi-angle light scattering, mass photometry, small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray crystallography, negative-stain electron microscopy and cryogenic electron microscopy.