Translational Antigen Discovery

Research Group Head

Dr Pouya Faridi

Antigen discoveries hold immense significance for the development of safe, precise, and effective cancer immunotherapies. The Faridi group uses leading edge technologies to uncover the role of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules in tumours, with the aim of developing novel targets for cancer immunotherapy.

Overview

Translational Antigen Discovery Research Group — *Research Group*

Focusing on the immune response and cancer treatment, the Translational Antigen Discovery laboratory’s research holds great promise for revolutionising cancer treatment with more targeted and effective approaches.

The group’s focus is identifying clinically relevant peptides presented by the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecule to uncover potential targets for precision immunotherapies. The team’s quest involves employing a spectrum of advanced techniques, including mass spectrometry, proteomics, bioinformatics, multi-omics, and immunology, to meticulously piece together the puzzle of immune responses, with a specific emphasis on cancer-related aspects.

In this pursuit, the lab’s dedication to exploring immunopeptidomics – a specialised field within its arsenal – deserves special attention. Immunopeptidomics involves deciphering the intricate language of peptide antigens presented by HLA molecules, offering crucial insights into how the immune system recognises and responds to threats, especially in the context of cancer. By delving into the specifics of immunopeptidomics, the lab is exploring potential avenues for developing highly targeted immunotherapies for cancer and other diseases.

Projects in progress

Translational Antigen Discovery RG progress

Areas of focus

Finding soluble HLA as biomarkers to use for early cancer detection and as predictive indicators of immunotherapy effectiveness.
Leading the development of precision vaccines tailored for childhood cancers.
Developing immunopeptidomics and bioinformaticsmethods to identify non-canonical HLA-bound peptides, including spliced, endogenous retroviral, and non-coding RNA-derived peptides.

Major Collaborators

Professor	Gerald Linette	University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	USA
Professor	Javad Nazarian	The DMG/DIPG Centre	Zurich	Switzerland
Professor	Riccardo Dolcetti	Sir Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre	Melbourne	Australia
Professor	Tony Purcell	Monash University	Melbourne	Australia
Associate Professor	Ralf Schittenhelm	Monash University	Melbourne	Australia
Associate Professor	Orazio Vittorio	Children’s Cancer Institute	Sydney	Australia