Science @ the Salt House Invitation
Faculty of Medicine, Health & Molecular Science
Science @ the Salt House Invitation
‘An ancient cure for modern diseases’
Presented by: Professor Alex Loukas
Date: Wednesday, 25th July 2012
Time: 6.30pm
Place: The Salt House, 6/2 Pier Point Road
Everyone is welcome with free drink on arrival to all guests.
SUMMARY
In developed countries such as Australia, we have rid ourselves of many of the infectious diseases that still plague developing countries throughout the tropics. A consequence of our industrialisation and associated improved hygiene standards is an "epidemic" in inflammatory diseases. In Australia we are experiencing unprecedented rates of asthma, food allergies, diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases. Intriguingly, these inflammatory diseases are far less frequently encountered in developing countries where people's immune systems are pre-occupied in the fight against infectious agents, such as parasitic worms. This has led some researchers around the world to explore the potential of treating inflammatory diseases with live worms as well as molecules derived from worm "saliva" to mimic the effect of a worm infection. Professor Loukas will discuss the current state of affairs in worm therapy including some of the research efforts in his own laboratory.
BIOGRAPHY
Prof Alex Loukas obtained his PhD from the University of Queensland in 1995, conducted postdoctoral work in the UK and the US before establishing his own group at Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane in 2004. He moved to James Cook University in Cairns in 2010 as a professorial tropical research leader and founding director of the Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics at JCU. He holds an NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship and is editor-in-chief of the International Journal for Parasitology. His major research interest is the molecular basis of host-parasite relationships, with a particular focus on characterising the functions of molecules secreted by parasitic helminths (worms) that infect humans in developing countries. This seminar will explore Alex's most recent interest, the use of worms and their secreted proteins as novel therapies for autoimmune and allergic diseases. His research is supported by international and national funding bodies including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Australian and US governments, and large pharmaceutical companies. He is the author of more than 180 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous awards for his research.