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Centre for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Sciences (BioDeakin)
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Immunology and molecular biomedical research

Group members

AProf. Jagat Kanwar
Dr. Rupinder Kanwar
Ms. Sara Baratchi
Miss Rasika Manori Dewadinna Dinayadura
Mr VNL Ganesh Mahidhara

Associate Professor Jagat Kanwar, group leader of the Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biomedical Research (LIMBR-setup in 2007 after A/Prof. Kanwar's movement to Deakin University), has an international reputation in investigating fundamental and applied molecular aspects of cancer and chronic inflammation. The group carries out research in the areas of national priority such cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases (ageing) and molecular nutrition (complementary alternative medicine) with milk/herbs bioactives as immunomodulators. Additionally by investigating bioactives' role in gut biology, and immune health, LIMBR seeks to commercially exploit dairy bioactives for human health and the development of functional food ingredients, health supplements and neutraceutical and/or pharmaceutical grade immunotherapeutics. Apart from industry funded projects our research is also focused on siRNA and miRNA technology and drug discovery. LIMBR provides high quality research training and education to undergraduate and postgraduate students which, in turn, strengthen Deakin's strategic research and academic priorities.

Current Research

We seek to explore the roles of molecular mediators, antioxidants and cellular communication in the pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. LIMBR focuses on the:

Our research combines Immunology with state of the art and cutting edge techniques in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Nanobiotechnology and visualization to investigate the pathways in which key molecules are regulated in both normal and disease states. A number of in vitro human cell/tissue based co-culture models for cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases (osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease), gut health, neurodegeneration and immunomodulation have been developed in the past two years.

We carry out both academic and commercial research projects and develop new approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human diseases like cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), neurodegenerative and osteoarthritis. LIMBR through national and international collaborations aims in near future to translate discoveries into new approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human diseases like cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.

Selected publications:

  1. Kanwar JR, Mahidhara G and Kanwar RK. Recent advances in nano- technology for drug delivery to the brain. Current Nanoscience. 2009. Accepted, in press. (Impact factor: =2.9).

  2. Baratchi S, Kanwar RK, Khoshmanesh K, Vasu P, Chauhan A, Hittu M, Parratt A, Krishnakumar S, Sun X, Sahoo SK and Kanwar JR. Promises of Nanotechnology for Drug Delivery to Brain in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Current Nanoscience. 2009 5(1): 15-25. (Impact factor: =2.9).

  3. Kanwar JR, Kanwar RK. Gut health immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory functions of gut enzyme digested high protein micro-nutrient dietary supplement-Enprocal. BMC Immunol. 2009;10(1):7. Online publication on Jan 3. (Impact factor: =2.7). highly accessed publication

  4. Kanwar JR, Palmano KP, Sun X, Kanwar RK, Gupta R, Haggarty N, Rowan A, Ram S, Krissansen GW. (2008) 'Iron-saturated' lactoferrin is a potent natural adjuvant for augmenting cancer chemotherapy. Immunol Cell Biol. 86(3):277-288. (Impact factor: =2.5).

  5. Kanwar RK, Macgibbon AK, Black PN, Kanwar JR, Rowan A, Vale M, Krissansen GW. (2008) Bovine milk fat enriched in conjugated linoleic and vaccenic acids attenuates allergic airway disease in mice. Clin Exp Allergy. 38(1):208-218. (Impact factor: =3.66)

  6. Krissansen GW, Singh J, Kanwar RK, Leung, E, Lehnert KB, Kanwar JR and Yang Y (2006).A psuedosymmetric cell adhesion regulatory domain in the ß7 tail of integrin a4ß7. European Journal of Immunology 36(8): 2203-2214. (Impact Factor: 4.87)

  7. Kanwar JR, Kanwar RK and Krissansen GW (2004). Simultaneous neuroprotection and blockade of inflammation reverses autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Brain 127:1313-1331. (Impact Factor: 8.2; 42 citations).

  8. Sun X, M Vale, E Leung, Kanwar JR et al (2003). Mouse B7-H3 induces antitumor immunity. Gene Therapy 10: 1728-1734. (Impact Factor: 5.6; 40 citations

  9. Kanwar JR, Shen W, Kanwar RK, Berg RW and Krissansen GW (2001) Effect of survivin antagonists on the growth of established tumors and B7-1 immunogene therapy. Journal of The National Cancer Institute 93 (20): 1541-1552. (Impact Factor: 15.17; 71 citations).

  10. Sun X, Kanwar JR et al (2001). Gene transfer of antisense hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha enhances the therapeutic efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Gene Therapy. 8(8): 638-645. (Impact factor: 5.6; 97 citations).

  11. Kanwar JR, Kanwar RK, Pandey S, Ching LM and Krissansen GW(2001). Vascular attack by 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid combined with B7.1 (CD80)-mediated immunotherapy overcomes immune resistance and leads to the eradication of large tumors and multiple tumor foci. Cancer Research 61(5): 1948-1956. (Impact factor: 8.3; 31 citations

  12. Kanwar RK, Kanwar JR, Wang D, Ormrod D and Krissansen GW (2001). Temporal expression of heat shock proteins 60 and 70 at lesion-prone sites during atherogenesis in the ApoE-deficient mice. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 21 (12): 1991-1997. (Impact Factor: 7.7; 30 citations).

  13. Kanwar JR, Harrison JEB, Wang D, Leung E, Mueller W, Wagner N and Krissansen GW (2000). ß7 integrins contribute to demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Journal of Neuroimmunology 103 (2). 146-152. (Impact Factor: 3.5 ; 38 citations)

Patents:

Web link: http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/
(search for "Applicant name" Jagat Kanwar/Rupinder Kanwar)

  1. WO2006/054908
  2. WO 2008/140335
  3. WO 2008/079030
  4. WO 2000/076497
  5. WO 2002/030447
  6. WO 2002/030448
  7. WO 2004/009131
  8. WO 2007/055599
  9. WO 2006/112739
  10. WO 2006/112738
  11. WO 2005/107736