Improving response to immunotherapy

Supervisors:  A/Prof Doug Fairlie, Dr Conor Kearney, Erinna Lee

Laboratories: Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Cell Death and Survival Laboratory

Immunotherapy has reshaped the way we treat cancer. However, obstacles still exist including the inability to predict treatment efficacy, patient response and the development of resistance. Utilising the expertise of our joint labs in cancer immunology (Kearney) and membrane trafficking pathways (Lee/Fairlie), this PhD project will employ targeted CRISPR-based screening technologies to identify mechanisms that sensitise or inhibit tumour cells to T cell-mediated killing. For this project, the PhD candidate will utilise and develop skills in advanced molecular biology (in particular CRISPR screens), cell biology, membrane trafficking and cancer immunology.