Mater Medical Research Institute
Bone marrow transplants provide the only cure for many patients who suffer from leukaemia, myeloma and other disorders of the blood system. A common complication following a transplant known as graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a serious problem. This occurs when the donor immune cells generate an immune attack against the patient’s body. Most immunosuppressive drugs given to patients attack T cells which inflict the most damage but these are also responsible for killing cancerous cells. Dr Cullup’s work is focused on developing a new therapy to attack dendritic cells instead to prevent GVHD.
2010