Single cell technology and its application in immune-related diseases in children

The immune system plays a crucial role in protection against infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and cancer. White blood cells, which encompass lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells can be classified based on the molecules present on their surface, as well as their size and specific functions.

At the Ian Frazer Centre for Children’s Immunotherapy Research (IFCCIR), we aim to harness the power of the immune system to combat paediatric diseases. Our goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique characteristics of children's immune systems during development, in order to determine the most effective therapeutic approaches to treat immune-related diseases including cancer and autoimmune disorders.

The development of single-cell genomics technologies now enables us to characterise the unique features of individual immune cells amongst the thousands present in a single drop of blood. Through the analysis of hundreds of healthy children across various ages, we are constructing a Paediatric Immune Cell Atlas for Children’s Immunotherapy Innovation (PICACHIU).

This atlas will serve as a critical reference tool to help identify essential immunotherapy targets for paediatric diseases. Utilizing state-of-the-art sequencing technologies, bioinformatics analyses, and collaboration with leading immunologists and paediatricians, PICACHIU aims to generate an extensive paediatric immune cell atlas. This platform will allow scientists and clinicians to examine changes in immune profiles, assess states of hypo- or hyper-activation, and quantify deviations from healthy conditions.

For this research project, you will collaborate with clinicians at the Queensland Children's Hospital to procure samples from children with immune-related diseases. You will be responsible for blood and tissue sample preparation for single-cell sequencing and will receive training in genomic data analysis. Additionally, you will work closely with the computational immunology team at IFCCIR to analyse samples and perform expression profiling at the single-cell level to study immune cells and their receptors. You will use sophisticated computational modelling to identify differences between samples from immunologically healthy children and those with immune-related conditions.

At the Ian Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research (IFCCIR), situated within the Child Health Research Centre at the University of Queensland, you will have the opportunity to engage in groundbreaking research using state-of-the-art facilities. IFCCIR is the first centre in Australia dedicated to children's immunotherapy, allowing you to collaborate with leading experts in the field and experienced clinicians at Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ).

IFCCIR has a close collaboration with the Frazer Institute at the University of Queensland, equipped with advanced research tools, including flow cytometry sorters and an in-house 10x Chromium single-cell capturing instrument, designed to facilitate the generation of sequencing-ready single-cell libraries.