Translational research is defined as research that uses findings from basic science studies for practical applications that enhance health and well-being both in humans and animals.

CD8 T-cells are important for protection against a plethora of different pathogens and are also capable of killing cancerous cells. In contrast, dysregulated CD8 T-cell immunity can have devastating effects, for example autoimmunity and graft rejection. Professor Linda Wooldridge leads the research aimed at understanding the basic immunology of the CD8 T-cell response and translate the groups’ findings to improve our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie CD8 T-cell mediated disease and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. As such, the group has active projects that span three different areas:

Understanding the basic mechanisms involved in CD8 T-cell activation

• CD8 T-cells recognize small peptide fragments complexed with Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I (pMHCI) molecules expressed at the target cell surface, binding via the T-cell receptor (TCR) and CD8 coreceptor. The CD8+ T cell activation involves two key interactions:
• The TCR/pMHCI interaction: determines antigen specificity. Promiscuity is a characteristic feature of this interaction and it is essential for effective immunity.
• The pMHCI/CD8 interaction: has a potent ability to tune the antigen specific immune response by a number of different mechanisms. The CD8 coreceptor can enhance antigen sensitivity by up to 1 million fold!

We are interesting in understanding both of these interactions and how to manipulate them for therapeutic benefit.

Understanding the pathogenesis of common CD8 T-cell mediated disease

Currently we have several active projects in this area which include:

• Understanding the role of CD8 T-cells in the pathogenesis of neuro-inflammatory diseases in humans and animals. In particular, we are interested in investigating the possibility that these conditions are triggered by an invading pathogen.
• Understanding the requirements for effective immunity against viral infections in human and animals such as HIV and FIV.
• Defining the pathogenic triggers of T-cell leukaemia.
• Studying the molecular/biochemical basis of alloreactivity.

Translation for the development of novel therapeutic strategies

We are interesting in developing therapies in the following areas of unmet need:

• T-cell therapy for cancer: The identification of strategies that can be used to generate large numbers of T-cells for therapy. In addition, we are examining the possibility that the CD8 coreceptor could be used as way of engineering T-cells with increased sensitivity to cancer antigens and the ability to kill cancer cells more effectively. 
• Novel therapeutics to use in autoimmunity: We are investigating the use of agents that target the CD8 coreceptor to block unwanted autoreactive T-cell activation in autoimmune diseases such as Type I Diabetes (TID) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Please feel free to get in touch with Professor Linda Wooldridge if you are interested in any of these research areas.

Linda also has her own group website http://www.wooldridgetcell.org/