Dolcetti Laboratory: Clinical and Translational Immunotherapy

The Dolcetti lab performs pre-clinical and clinical research aimed at improving the applicability and efficacy of cancer immunotherapy with particular focus on antigen-specific strategies. The lab has particular expertise in the identification and functional validation of immunogenic tumour antigens, which are exploited within novel immunotherapeutic approaches (cancer vaccines, cell-based immunotherapy) and in clinically applicable immunoassays to monitor tumour-specific immune responses in cancer patients.

The research activities of the lab focus on breast cancer, melanoma, primary and metastatic brain tumours and virus-driven malignancies. To overcome immunotherapy resistance and local immunosuppression typically associated with tumour progression, the lab is also exploring novel combination therapies, including cell- and gene- based strategies for the tumour targeted delivery of biomolecules to restore anti-tumour immunity. Proof of feasibility, efficacy, and safety, as well as insights into therapy induced immune modulation are provided using both murine and humanised models of primary and metastatic tumours. The lab is located in the VCCC Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy on Level 13 of the VCCC building.

Main research themes in our laboratory include:

• Pre- clinical exploitation of a novel nanoparticle-based vaccination platform targeting cross-presenting Clec9A+ dendritic cells in vivo, particularly in combination with checkpoint modulators and CAR T cell therapies.
• Identification and characterisation of novel classes of tumour neo-antigens to improve cancer immunotherapy.
• Identification and pre-clinical exploitation of novel immunotherapeutic targets for the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumours.
• Clinical application of advanced assays to monitor anti-tumour immune responses in cancer patients enrolled in immunotherapy trials.
• Development of an engineered monocyte-based platform for efficient intra-tumour delivery of biomolecules able to revert local immunosuppression.
• Development of new strategies to overcome immunotherapy resistance.
• Development and application of humanised mouse models to investigate the in vivo immunogenicity of human tumour antigens and the efficacy of immunotherapeutic strategies.

Professor Joseph Trapani, The University of Melbourne and Director, Centre for Cancer Immunotherapy at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Associate Professor Paul Neeson, The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Associate Professor Michael Kershaw, The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Clare Slaney, The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Nicole Haynes, The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Mohamed Fared, The University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Professor Sudha Rao, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane

Professor Kum Kum Khanna, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane

Sunil Lakhani, University of Queensland

Dr Jodi Saunus, University of Queensland

Professor Nikolas Haass, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute

Associate Professor Fiona Simpson, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute

Dr Fernando Guimaraes, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute

Dr Snehlata Kumari, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute

Dr Jazmina Gonzalez Cruz, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute

Professor Brian Gabrielli, Mater Research Institute, Brisbane

Associate Professor Chamindie Punyadeera, Queensland University of Technology

Associate Professor Paul Leo, Queensland University of Technology

Associate Professor Pilar Blancafort, University of Western Australia

Associate Professor Daniel Kolarich, Griffith University

Professor Antony Purcell, Monash University

Dr Pouya Faridi, Monash University

Associate Professor Erica Sloan, Monash University

Professor Arnaldo Caruso, University of Brescia, Italy

Professor Antonio Rosato, University of Padova, Italy

Professor Anita De Rossi, University of Padova, Italy

Dr Stefania Zanussi, CRO-National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy

Dr Valli De Re, CRO-National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy