CID seminar, Dr Tin Soe Kyaw and Dr Alberta Hoi, 28 November

Tuesday 28 November, 12-1pm, TRF Seminar Room 1

CD8αβ+ T cells Promote Cardiac Fibrosis in Hypertensive Hearts

Dr Tin Soe Kyaw, Senior Research Fellow, Baker Institute

Dr Tin’s research focuses atherosclerosis and cardia fibrosis. Using different animal models, he studies how lymphocytes influence vulnerable plaque generation and plaque rupture as heart attack is leading cause of deaths globally and locally. Current projects investigate the mechanisms by which B cells, gamma-delta T cells and cytotoxic T cells contribute to vulnerable plaques and plaque rupture and roles of cytotoxic T cells in cardiac fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis (CF) is an important contributor to heart failure, increasing cardiac stiffness and thereby reducing cardiac performance. CD8+T cells have been associated with CF but their exact role has remained elusive. Here we aim to define the role of CD8αβ+ T cells in CF and identify molecular mechanisms by which these cells influence fibrosis. Antibody-mediated depletion of CD8αβ+ T cells in TAC- or 2K1C-mouse models greatly attenuated CF.

Monash Lupus Research 2017 update: Collaborative effort with national, international and industry partners

Dr Alberta Hoi, Head of Lupus Clinic, MMCSenior Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, Monash University

Dr Alberta Hoi is a consultant rheumatologist and senior research fellow at Monash Health and Monash University. She leads projects relating to the Australian Lupus Registry & Biobank, jointly chair for the Australian Lupus Registry & Biobank steering committee. Her clinical research interests focus on registry design, impact of high disease activity state in lupus and effects of healthcare quality on disease outcome. She is also the chair for the Australian Rheumatology Association SLE Interest Group (SLESIG) and a steering committee member of the Asia-Pacific Lupus Collaboration. In addition to research, Dr Alberta Hoi is committed to excellence and innovation in patient care and medical education. 

 Ongoing effort to expand the Australian Lupus Registry has been in place over the last year, putting Monash firmly on the center stage of national and international lupus research. We have continued our model of integrated clinic providing care for lupus patients in Melbourne, and continued clinical and biosample data collection as part of our routine clinic visit. Our collaborative effort with the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration group has continued to be productive, forming one of largest lupus cohorts in the world. We have identified common interests with industry groups who are investing significantly into R&D in the lupus space, as new therapeutic targets are fast becoming real therapy that could improve clinical outcomes for patients. We have mutual goals in better understanding the impact of lupus as well as its unmet needs on patients. The infrastructure that we have built at Monash allows us to effectively collaborate with our industry partners