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
2020
Journal Article
Absence of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (RAGE) Reduces Inflammation and Extends Survival in the hSOD1 Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Lee, John D., McDonald, Tanya S., Fung, Jenny N. T. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Absence of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (RAGE) Reduces Inflammation and Extends Survival in the hSOD1 Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Molecular Neurobiology, 57 (10), 4143-4155. doi: 10.1007/s12035-020-02019-9
2020
Journal Article
The peripheral immune system and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
McCombe, Pamela A., Lee, John D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Henderson, Robert D. (2020). The peripheral immune system and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology, 11 279, 279. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00279
2020
Journal Article
The microglial NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis proteins
Deora, Vandana, Lee, John D., Albornoz, Eduardo A., McAlary, Luke, Jagaraj, Cyril J., Robertson, Avril A. B., Atkin, Julie D, Cooper, Matthew A., Schroder, Kate, Yerbury, Justin J., Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). The microglial NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis proteins. Glia, 68 (2) glia.23728, 407-421. doi: 10.1002/glia.23728
2020
Journal Article
Preclinical pharmacokinetics of complement C5a receptor antagonists PMX53 and PMX205 in mice
Kumar, Vinod, Lee, John D., Clark, Richard J., Noakes, Peter G., Taylor, Stephen M. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Preclinical pharmacokinetics of complement C5a receptor antagonists PMX53 and PMX205 in mice. ACS Omega, 5 (5) acsomega.9b03735, 2345-2354. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03735
2019
Journal Article
The Concise Guide to Pharmacology 2019/20: G protein‐coupled receptors
Alexander, Stephen P. H., 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., Sharman, Joanna L., Southan, Christopher, Davies, Jamie A., Abbracchio, Maria P., Alexander, Wayne, Al-hosaini, Khaled, Bäck, Magnus, Beaulieu, Jean‐Martin, Bernstein, Kenneth E., Bettler, Bernhard, Birdsall, Nigel J.M., Blaho, Victoria, Bousquet, Corinne, Bräuner-Osborne, Hans, Burnstock, Geoffrey, Caló, Girolamo, Castaño, Justo P., Catt, Kevin J. ... Yao, Chengcan (2019). The Concise Guide to Pharmacology 2019/20: G protein‐coupled receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 176 (S1), S21-S141. doi: 10.1111/bph.14748
2019
Journal Article
Complement peptide receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database
Cianciulli, Antonia, Coulthard, Liam, Hawksworth, Owen, Lee, John D., Mitolo, Vincenzo, Monk, Peter, Panaro, Maria A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). Complement peptide receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE, 2019 (4). doi: 10.2218/gtopdb/f5/2019.4
2019
Journal Article
C5a receptors C5aR1 and C5aR2 mediate opposing pathologies in a mouse model of melanoma
Nabizadeh, Jamileh A., Manthey, Helga D., Panagides, Nadya, Steyn, Frederik J., Lee, John D., Li, Xaria X., Akhir, Fazrena N. M., Chen, Weiyu, Boyle, Glen M., Taylor, Stephen M., Woodruff, Trent M. and Rolfe, Barbara E. (2019). C5a receptors C5aR1 and C5aR2 mediate opposing pathologies in a mouse model of melanoma. FASEB Journal, 33 (10), fj201800980RR-11071. doi: 10.1096/fj.201800980rr
2019
Journal Article
The complement receptor C5aR2: a powerful modulator of innate and adaptive immunity
Li, Xaria X., Lee, John D., Kemper, Claudia and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). The complement receptor C5aR2: a powerful modulator of innate and adaptive immunity. Journal of Immunology, 202 (12), 3339-3348. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900371
2019
Journal Article
Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?
McCombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D., Lee, Aven, Lee, John D., Woodruff, Trent M., Restuadi, Restuadi, McRae, Allan, Wray, Naomi R., Ngo, Shyuan and Steyn, Frederik J. (2019). Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 19 (9), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/14737175.2019.1623026
2019
Journal Article
Therapeutic blockade of HMGB1 reduces early motor deficits, but not survival in the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lee, John D., Liu, Ning, Levin, Samantha C., Ottosson, Lars, Andersson, Ulf, Harris, Helena E. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). Therapeutic blockade of HMGB1 reduces early motor deficits, but not survival in the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 16 (1) 45, 45. doi: 10.1186/s12974-019-1435-2
2019
Conference Publication
Complement C5a receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2, mediate opposing pathologies in a mouse model of melanoma
Nabizadeh, J., Manthey, H., Panagides, N., Steyn, F., Lee, J., Li, X., Woodruff, T. and Rolfe, B. (2019). Complement C5a receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2, mediate opposing pathologies in a mouse model of melanoma. 17th International Congress of Immunology (IUIS), Beijing, China, 19-23 October 2019. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley.
2019
Conference Publication
Deciphering key roles for complement peptide receptors in brain development
Woodruff, T., Hawksworth, O., Lee, J. and Coulthard, L. (2019). Deciphering key roles for complement peptide receptors in brain development. Joint Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry and American Society for Neurochemistry (ISN-ASN), Montreal, Canada, 4-8 August 2019. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2018
Journal Article
Complement C3a receptor modulates embryonic neural progenitor cell proliferation and cognitive performance
Coulthard, Liam G., Hawksworth, Owen A., Conroy, Jacinta, Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2018). Complement C3a receptor modulates embryonic neural progenitor cell proliferation and cognitive performance. Molecular Immunology, 101, 176-181. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.06.271
2018
Journal Article
Development and validation of a LC-MS/MS assay for pharmacokinetic studies of complement C5a receptor antagonists PMX53 and PMX205 in mice
Kumar, Vinod, Lee, John D., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2018). Development and validation of a LC-MS/MS assay for pharmacokinetic studies of complement C5a receptor antagonists PMX53 and PMX205 in mice. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 8101, 8101. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26387-4
2018
Journal Article
Defects in synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction precedes motor deficits in a TDP-43Q331K transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Lee, John D., Qiu, Hao, Willis, Emily F., Lavidis, Nickolas A., Hilliard, Massimo A. and Noakes, Peter G. (2018). Defects in synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction precedes motor deficits in a TDP-43Q331K transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 32 (5), fj201700835R-2689. doi: 10.1096/fj.201700835R
2017
Journal Article
Complement C5a-C5aR1 signalling drives skeletal muscle macrophage recruitment in the hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Wang, Haitao A., Lee, John D., Lee, Kah Meng, Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2017). Complement C5a-C5aR1 signalling drives skeletal muscle macrophage recruitment in the hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Skeletal Muscle, 7 (1) 10, 10. doi: 10.1186/s13395-017-0128-8
2017
Journal Article
Complement C5aR1 signaling promotes polarization and proliferation of embryonic neural progenitor cells through PKCζ
Coulthard, Liam G., Hawksworth, Owen A., Li, Rui, Balachandran, Anushree, Lee, John D., Sepehrband, Farshid, Kurniawan, Nyoman, Jeanes, Angela, Simmons, David G., Wolvetang, Ernst and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Complement C5aR1 signaling promotes polarization and proliferation of embryonic neural progenitor cells through PKCζ. Journal of Neuroscience, 37 (22), 5395-5407. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0525-17.2017
2017
Journal Article
Non-invasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system
Spiers, Jereme G., Chen, Hsiao-Jou Cortina, Steyn, Frederik J., Lavidis, Nickolas A., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2017). Non-invasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system. Stress, 20 (1), 59-67. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2016.1276898
2017
Conference Publication
Motor neuron disease proteins activate complement and generate C5a
Deora, Vandana, Mantovani, Susanna, Yerbury, Justin, Clark, Richard, Atkin, Julie, Lee, John, Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Motor neuron disease proteins activate complement and generate C5a. 16th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease (EMCHD), Copenhagen, Denmark, 8-12 September 2017. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.06.144
2016
Journal Article
Cortical synaptic and dendritic spine abnormalities in a presymptomatic TDP-43 model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Fogarty, Matthew J., Klenowski, Paul M., Lee, John D., Drieberg-Thompson, Joy R., Bartlett, Selena E., Ngo, Shyuan T., Hilliard, Massimo A., Bellingham, Mark C. and Noakes, Peter G. (2016). Cortical synaptic and dendritic spine abnormalities in a presymptomatic TDP-43 model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 37968, 37968. doi: 10.1038/srep37968
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 potential role of CXCR2 activation in motor neuron disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr Jenny Fung
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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
The role of neuronal complement activation in Motor Neuron Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, 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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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
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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
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: Dr Richard Gordon, Professor Trent Woodruff
Media
Enquiries
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