Dr Ajithkumar Vasanthakumar
(MSc, PhD)
Head, Tissue and Tumour Immunity Laboratory, ONJCRI
Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, La Trobe University
Honorary Research fellow, University of Melbourne
Dr Vasanthakumar is an NHMRC investigator and heads the Tissue and Tumour Immunity laboratory at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI). He obtained his PhD from MK University, India followed by postdoctoral stints at the WEHI and Doherty Institute before starting his research group at the ONJCRI in 2021.
His research employs novel transgenic mouse models, cutting edge-molecular tools and multi-parameter flow cytometry to understand regulatory T (Treg) cell mediated immune suppression in solid tumours.
Specifically, his group investigates the homeostatic mechanisms of tumour infiltrating Treg cells and their crosstalk with other immune and non-immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. The overarching aim of his group is to discover novel molecules to target Treg cells specifically within tumours to enhance anti-tumour immunity.
Dr Vasanthakumar is a world leader in Treg cell biology with expertise in tissue immunology, metabolism, transcriptional regulation and cytokine biology. He has published in top-ranking journals including Nature and Nature Immunology and his research is funded by grants from NHMRC and Cancer Council Victoria. He is the coordinator of Immunometabolism special interest group, Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) and founder of an Australia wide Treg interest group.
Current Projects & Areas of Interest:
Investigating immune suppression in glioblastoma (GBM) and metastatic brain tumours.
Understanding the role of IL-33 in glioblastoma immunity.
Discovering pan tumour and tumour type specific pathways for Treg cell targeting.
Investigating the crosstalk between Treg cells and the tumour microenvironment.
Understanding the metabolic crosstalk between Treg cells and tumours.