Congratulations to Dr Jim Harris on receiving the MS Research Australia Incubator Grant!

Dr Jim Harris

Dr Jim Harris from the Rheumatology Group has been awarded a $25,000 MS Research Australia Incubator Grant for his research on the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF).

He said, "We have recently discovered a new mechanism by which the pro-inflammatory molecule macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) regulates inflammation through direct effects on the NLRP3 inflammasome. This has potential significance for a number of diseases in which both MIF and NLRP3 have suspected pathological roles, including MS.

The aim of our work is to better understand exactly how MIF is involved in disease through better understanding of its biology. In doing so, we will be able to design more specific assays with which to test MIF-targeting therapeutics for use in MS and other inflammatory autoimmune diseases".

Speaking of the award, Dr Harris said, "I am honoured to have received this grant from MS Research Australia. This project, which is a collaboration with Dr Natalie Payne at the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) is great opportunity for us to apply our recent findings to this debilitating disease".

Dr Harris is an Immunologist/Cell Biologist with an interest in autophagy, endocytosis, macrophage and dendritic cell biology, inflammation and host-pathogen interactions. He co-runs the Rheumatology Group with Professor Eric Morand and is focused on innate immune responses and inflammation in autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus), scleroderma and arthritis. He is also investigating the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in inflammation and cell biology.