Overview
Background
Dr John Lee is the Ross Maclean Senior Research Fellow and a Group Leader at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI). He holds a joint appointment at UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences. A mid-career researcher with training in neuroscience, pharmacology, and inflammatory pathways, including the complement system and inflammasomes in motor neuron disease (MND), Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
Dr. Lee completed his PhD at UQ in 2014, before pursuing postdoctoral research in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. His translational studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of anti-inflammatory compounds to reduce neuronal cell death in animal models, with one candidate advancing to Phase 1B clinical trials. He is also collaborating on novel liquid drug formulations to meet the needs of MND patients who lose the ability to swallow.
Supported by the Ross Maclean Fellowship, which was established in memory of Ross Maclean, who lost his battle with MND in 2005, Dr Lee is working to accelerate drug programs towards the clinic and improve the quality of life for people living with MND.
Availability
- Dr John Lee is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Neuroimmunology in neurodegenerative diseases
We explore the involvement of innate immune cells in the pathogenesis of MND, HD, and PD to identify potential therapeutic targets. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation, we aim to develop interventions that halt or slow disease progression.
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Immunometabolism in neuroinflammation
Our group investigates the metabolic capacity of innate immune cells within the central nervous system, including neutrophils, macrophages, microglia, and astrocytes. By understanding how alterations in cellular metabolism impact immune function, we aim to uncover new strategies for modulating neuroinflammatory responses.
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Immune system – Stress response crosstalk
We explore the intricate relationship between the immune system and the stress response, particularly its implications in neuropsychiatric disorders. By unravelling the molecular mechanisms underlying this crosstalk, we aim to identify new therapeutic targets for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Immunosenescence and Neurological Aging
Our group investigates the link between the immune system and aging within the context of neurological health. By studying age-related changes in immune function and their impact on brain health, we aim to develop interventions that promote healthy aging and mitigate age-related neurological disorders.
Works
Search Professor John Lee’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate
Lo, Martin W., Amarilla, Alberto A., Lee, John D., Albornoz, Eduardo A., Modhiran, Naphak, Clark, Richard J., Ferro, Vito, Chhabra, Mohit, Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel and Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 11 (8) e1413, e1413. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1413
2022
Book Chapter
Neuroinflammation in Huntington’s
Lee, John D., Lo, Martin W., Fung, Jenny N. T. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). Neuroinflammation in Huntington’s. Neurodegenerative Diseases Biomarkers. (pp. 215-233) edited by Philip V. Peplow, Bridget Martinez and Thomas A. Gennarelli. New York, NY, United States: Springer US. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1712-0_9
2021
Journal Article
In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy
Cui, Cedric S., Kumar, Vinod, Gorman, Declan M., Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 5 (1) acsptsci.1c00227, 41-51. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00227
2021
Conference Publication
An in-vivo pharmacodynamic method to investigate complement C5a receptor antagonists
Cui, Cedric, Kumar, Vinod, Gorman, Declan, Clark, Richard, Lee, John and Woodruff, Trent (2021). An in-vivo pharmacodynamic method to investigate complement C5a receptor antagonists. ICW – 2021 Virtual Workshop of the International Complement Society (ICS), Virtual, 7-10 December 2021. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.11.020
2021
Journal Article
Unexpected off-target activities for recombinant C5a in human macrophages
Li, Xaria X., Gorman, Declan M., Lee, John D., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). Unexpected off-target activities for recombinant C5a in human macrophages. Journal of Immunology, 208 (1), 133-142. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100444
2021
Journal Article
Development of synthetic human and mouse C5a: application to binding and functional assays in vitro and in vivo
Gorman, Declan M., Li, Xaria X., Payne, Colton D., Cui, Cedric S., Lee, John D., Rosengren, K. Johan, Woodruff, Trent M. and Clark, Richard J. (2021). Development of synthetic human and mouse C5a: application to binding and functional assays in vitro and in vivo. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 4 (6) acsptsci.1c00199, 1808-1817. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00199
2021
Journal Article
Development of Potent and Selective Agonists for Complement C5a Receptor 1 with In Vivo Activity
Gorman, Declan M., Li, Xaria X., Lee, John D., Fung, Jenny N., Cui, Cedric S., Lee, Han Siean, Rolfe, Barbara E., Woodruff, Trent M. and Clark, Richard J. (2021). Development of Potent and Selective Agonists for Complement C5a Receptor 1 with In Vivo Activity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64 (22) acs.jmedchem.1c01174, 16598-16608. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01174
2021
Journal Article
Intrinsic bias at non-canonical, β-arrestin-coupled seven transmembrane receptors
Pandey, Shubhi, Kumari, Punita, Baidya, Mithu, Kise, Ryoji, Cao, Yubo, Dwivedi-Agnihotri, Hemlata, Banerjee, Ramanuj, Li, Xaria X., Cui, Cedric S., Lee, John D., Kawakami, Kouki, Maharana, Jagannath, Ranjan, Ashutosh, Chaturvedi, Madhu, Jhingan, Gagan Deep, Laporte, Stéphane A., Woodruff, Trent M., Inoue, Asuka and Shukla, Arun K. (2021). Intrinsic bias at non-canonical, β-arrestin-coupled seven transmembrane receptors. Molecular Cell, 81 (22), 4605-4621.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.09.007
2021
Journal Article
The emerging role of complement in neuromuscular disorders
Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). The emerging role of complement in neuromuscular disorders. Seminars in Immunopathology, 43 (6), 817-828. doi: 10.1007/s00281-021-00895-4
2021
Journal Article
The concise guide to pharmacology 2021/22: G protein‐coupled receptors
Alexander, Stephen PH, Christopoulos, Arthur, Davenport, Anthony P, Kelly, Eamonn, Mathie, Alistair, Peters, John A, Veale, Emma L, Armstrong, Jane F, Faccenda, Elena, Harding, Simon D, Pawson, Adam J, Southan, Christopher, Davies, Jamie A, Abbracchio, Maria Pia, Alexander, Wayne, Al‐hosaini, Khaled, Bäck, Magnus, Barnes, Nicholas M., Bathgate, Ross, Beaulieu, Jean‐Martin, Bernstein, Kenneth E., Bettler, Bernhard, Birdsall, Nigel J.M., Blaho, Victoria, Boulay, Francois, Bousquet, Corinne, Bräuner‐Osborne, Hans, Burnstock, Geoffrey, Caló, Girolamo ... Ye, Richard D. (2021). The concise guide to pharmacology 2021/22: G protein‐coupled receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 178 (S1), S27-S156. doi: 10.1111/bph.15538
2021
Journal Article
Complement peptide receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.3
Cianciulli, Antonia, Coulthard, Liam, Hawksworth, Owen, Lee, John D., Li, Xaria X., Mitolo, Vincenzo, Monk, Peter, Panaro, Maria A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). Complement peptide receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.3. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE, 2021 (3), 1-13. doi: 10.2218/gtopdb/f5/2021.3
2021
Journal Article
Glucose clearance and uptake is increased in the SOD1 G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through an insulin‐independent mechanism
McDonald, Tanya S., Kumar, Vinod, Fung, Jenny N., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2021). Glucose clearance and uptake is increased in the SOD1 G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through an insulin‐independent mechanism. The FASEB Journal, 35 (7) e21707, e21707. doi: 10.1096/fj.202002450r
2021
Journal Article
Complement: a global immunometabolic regulator in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lo, Martin W. and Lee, John D. (2021). Complement: a global immunometabolic regulator in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neural Regeneration Research, 16 (6), 1210-1211. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.300441
2021
Journal Article
The “C3aR Antagonist” SB290157 is a partial C5aR2 agonist
Li, Xaria X., Kumar, Vinod, Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). The “C3aR Antagonist” SB290157 is a partial C5aR2 agonist. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11 591398, 591398. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.591398
2021
Journal Article
Chemical synthesis and characterisation of the complement C5 inhibitory peptide zilucoplan
Gorman, Declan M., Lee, John, Payne, Colton D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Clark, Richard J. (2021). Chemical synthesis and characterisation of the complement C5 inhibitory peptide zilucoplan. Amino Acids, 53 (1), 143-147. doi: 10.1007/s00726-020-02921-5
2021
Journal Article
Clinical and electrophysiological examination of pinch strength in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lee, John D., Heshmat, Saman, Heggie, Susan, Thorpe, Kathryn A., McCombe, Pamela A. and Henderson, Robert D. (2021). Clinical and electrophysiological examination of pinch strength in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Muscle and Nerve, 63 (1) mus.27111, 108-113. doi: 10.1002/mus.27111
2020
Journal Article
TDP-43 Puts the STING in ALS
Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). TDP-43 Puts the STING in ALS. Trends in Neurosciences, 44 (2), 81-82. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.12.001
2020
Journal Article
Complement peptide receptors (version 2020.5) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database
Cianciulli, Antonia, Coulthard, Liam, Hawksworth, Owen, Lee, John D., Li, Xiang X., Mitolo, Vincenzo, Monk, Peter, Panaro, Maria A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Complement peptide receptors (version 2020.5) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE, 2020 (5). doi: 10.2218/gtopdb/f5/2020.5
2020
Journal Article
Is the C3a receptor antagonist SB290157 a useful pharmacological tool?
Lee, John D., Taylor, Stephen M. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Is the C3a receptor antagonist SB290157 a useful pharmacological tool?. British Journal of Pharmacology, 177 (24) bph.15264, 5677-5678. doi: 10.1111/bph.15264
2020
Journal Article
Absence of the C5a receptor C5aR2 worsens ischemic tissue injury by increasing C5aR1-mediated neutrophil infiltration
Wu, Mike C. L., Lee, John D., Ruitenberg, Marc J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Absence of the C5a receptor C5aR2 worsens ischemic tissue injury by increasing C5aR1-mediated neutrophil infiltration. The Journal of Immunology, 205 (10), 1-6. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000778
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr John Lee is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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The role of innate immune and inflammatory pathways in neurodegenerative diseases
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The link between innate immune system and energy metabolism and its contribution to neurodegeneration
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Neutrophils in Motor Neuron Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr Jenny Fung, Dr Cedric Cui
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting IL-6 Trans-Signalling as a therapeutic strategy in Motor Neuron Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr Jenny Fung
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Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the role of CXCR2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr Jenny Fung
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Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the Role of Astrocytes in Motor Neuron Disease to discover new therapeutic targets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr Jenny Fung
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Doctor Philosophy
Therapeutic blockade of neuroinflammation for the treatment of Huntington's disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Eduardo Albornoz Balmaceda, Professor Trent Woodruff
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Master Philosophy
Preclinical evaluation of C3a agonist drugs for treatment MND/ALS.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr Vinod Kumar, Professor Trent Woodruff
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Doctor Philosophy
Complement in subarachnoid haemorrhage
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr Liam Coulthard
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Complement Modulation of Peripheral Immunity in Motor Neurone Disease and Huntington's Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Naomi Wray, Professor Trent Woodruff
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Preclinical development of complement C5aR1 antagonists for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr Vinod Kumar, Dr Felicity Han, Professor Trent Woodruff
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Immunopharmacology of the Complement C5a Receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Professor Mark Blaskovich, Professor Trent Woodruff
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The role of GPR43 in neuroinflammation and the hSOD1G93A mouse model of motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff
Media
Enquiries
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