Background
The control of viral infections and cancers is reliant on a well-functioning and organized immune system. Natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic T cells are the primary immune cells responsible for killing virus-infected and tumour cells. However, uncontrolled virus replication and cancer growth result in dysfunction of these immune cells and lead to disease progression.
Aim
This project aims to discover new targets that can activate or enhance dysfunctional immune cells and boost their ability to fight against diseases. The study will use genetically modified mouse strains, specifically gene knockout, to investigate the role of specific molecules in regulating immune cell functions and their impact on viral and tumour control. The molecules that demonstrate potential will undergo further examination in human immune cells to translate these findings into human disease settings.
Project Potential
Identification of novel targetable molecules could lead to the development of therapeutic drugs for cancer and viral infection treatment.