Antigen discoveries hold immense significance for the development of safe, precise, and effective cancer immunotherapies. The Translational Antigen Discovery 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.
Research group
Overview
Focusing on the immune response and cancer treatment, the Translational Antigen Discovery laboratory’s research and the childhood cancer immunotherapy program 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
Diseases we research
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.
Research Group Head | Associate Professor Pouya Faridi
Cancer immunotherapy is an innovative treatment method that enhances the body’s immune system to combat and regulate cancer. My research uses leading-edge technologies to find new targets for advancing cancer immunotherapy.
Meet the team
Dr Farnaz Fahimi Postdoctoral Scientist 
Dr Gabriel Goncalves Postdoctoral Scientist 
Dr Dongbin Jin Honorary Research Associate 
Bianca Lianto Honorary Research Associate 
Dr Terry Lim Honorary Research Associate 
Nivedhitha Selvakumar Research Support Staff 
Huiyu (Nova) Shi Research Support Staff 
Isaac Woodhouse Research Support Staff 
Liesl Bramberger PhD Student 
Grace Huang PhD Student 
Dr Tima Shamekhi PhD Student 
Mersedeh Shayan PhD Student 
Nurfarhanah (Farhanah) Syed Sulaiman PhD Student 
Erwin Tanuwidjaya PhD Student 
Kai Min (Daniel) Lum Undergraduate Student News from the lab
Student opportunities
Collaborators
