Project details

Dupilumab is the current favoured treatment for refractory, moderate to severe eczema (atopic dermatitis (AD)). Despite broad success, Dupilumab treatment fails for a clinically significant number of patients. Our research indicates that inappropriate cell death may contribute to skin diseases, and could be an alternative therapeutic target; however, this has not been investigated in eczema.

This project will examine clinical samples from Dupilumab responder and non-responder patients using cutting-edge spacialomics techniques to assess cell death and inflammatory signalling pathways. We will also explore how dysregulated cell death contributes to hyper-inflammation in a novel preclinical AD model. The student will combine advanced multiplex imaging with biochemical, histopathological and flow cytometry analyses to understand the relative role of skin and immune cell death programs to AD pathogenesis.

About our research group

The Silke lab consists of an enthusiastic and diverse group of post-doctoral scientists, research assistants and PhD students with expertise in cell death and inflammation. Our research has advanced the understanding of TNF signalling and the apoptotic and necroptotic cell death pathways. Our work highlights the contribution of cell death to pathogenic inflammation and presents an opportunity to target these pathways in inflammatory disease.

Students are welcomed into a strong collaborative and interdisciplinary research group with ample research support and broad intellectual and technical expertise. They will have the opportunity to develop skills in state-of-the-art multiplex imaging, pre-clinical disease models, histopathology, flow cytometry and molecular biology. This project is further supported by an established collaboration with senior dermatologists from the Royal Melbourne Hospital.