Prof Andrew Brooks talks to Dr Norman Swan on ABC Radio National Health Report

Prof Andrew Brooks, Dept Microbiology & Immunology, is interviewed by Dr Norman Swan about new research published in Cell that discovered an ancient gene influencing immunity in First Nations people.

In the interview, Prof Brooks discusses the findings from the international research, co-led by the Doherty Institute and Monash University, which has gained new understanding of the immunity of First Nations people across Oceania, which includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

We were trying to understand why respiratory diseases are more severe in first nations people.

The gene variation affects the natural killer cells, which play a vital role in the first line of immune defence. This discovery is important for addressing and reducing disparities in health outcomes, with implications for the treatment of diseases like tuberculosis and cancer.