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Dr Mainthan Palendira
Head, Human Viral and Cancer Immunology Laboratory
Dr Palendira is a Senior Lecturer in the department of Infectious diseases and Immunology at the University of Sydney and heads a research laboratory at the Centenary institute. His laboratory focusses on human immunology research with a particular interest in cancers and viral infections.
Our laboratory is interested in understanding how the human immune system normally controls Epstein Barr Virus, and to what extent it contributes to disease. Effective control of infections and cancers relies on coordinated trafficking of T cells into tissues. Our recent work has not only identified resident memory T cells in different human tissues, but has also demonstrated that there is strategic retention of these cells at sites of possible reinfection. Understanding how T cells are retained within tissues, at the sites of continuing exposure to viruses, is critical not only for future vaccine strategies, but also for the prevention of T cell mediated immunopathology.
Dr Palendira completed his PhD in the laboratory of Prof Warwick Britton at the Centenary Institute in 2004. He then undertook post-doctoral training in the UK as a CJ Martin fellow. There he worked in the laboratories of both Prof Paul Moss and Prof Alan Rickinson on projects focussed on exploring the characteristics of CMV and EBV-specific CD8+ T cells in humans. On return to Australia he joined Prof Stuart Tangye’s laboratory at the Garvan Institute. In the 7 years he was at the Garvan Institute his work focussed on understanding the molecular pathogenesis of EBV infection in primary immunodeficiencies.
Learn more about his Research Laboratory.
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