Associate Professor Kate Gartlan
Associate Professor

Kate Gartlan

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Background

Dr Kate Gartlan is an immunologist with considerable expertise in cellular immunology, particularly using in vivo models of inflammation to investigate immune-modulation and T cell polarisation. Dr Gartlan began her research career at WEHI within Professor Ken Shortman’s laboratory developing strong skills in both molecular and cell biology, where she became interested in the early factors that influence adaptive immunity. She completed her PhD in 2009 at the Burnet Institute working with Associate Professor Mark Wright, where she studied functional redundancy between Tetraspanin proteins in the immune system. To advance her understanding of inflammatory mediators and adaptive immune polarisation, she moved to the University of Oxford and took up a postdoctoral position within the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. Working with Professor Quentin Sattentau, she investigated novel ways to modulate T cell polarisation and influence B cell responses to HIV vaccines.

After returning to Australia, she has worked with Professor Geoff Hill at QIMR Berghofer investigating novel therapies to treat graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in allograft recipients. Dr Gartlan has held active teaching roles within both university and research institute environments, contributing to undergraduate science and medicine programs at both departmental and college levels.

Her main research interests at present surround the role of IL-17 & IL-22 in GVHD, potential therapeutics to modulate T cell polarisation after allogeneic bone marrow/stem cell transplant (BMT/SCT), as well as developing novel inhibitors of graft rejection to improve engraftment after BMT/SCT.

Availability

Associate Professor Kate Gartlan is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Applied immunology (incl. antibody engineering, xenotransplantation and t-cell therapies) Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cellular immunology Haematological tumours Immunology Innate immunity Oncology and carcinogenesis Transplantation immunology

Search Professor Kate Gartlan’s works on UQ eSpace

55 works between 2006 and 2025
All (55) Journal Article (47) Conference Publication (8)

21 - 40 of 55 works

2018

Journal Article

Perforin inhibition protects from lethal endothelial damage during fulminant viral hepatitis

Welz, M., Eickhoff, S., Abdullah, Z., Trebicka, J., Gartlan, K. H., Spicer, J. A., Demetris, A. J., Akhlaghi, H., Anton, M., Manske, K., Zehn, D., Nieswandt, B., Kurts, C., Trapani, J. A., Knolle, P., Wohlleber, D. and Kastenmüller, W. (2018). Perforin inhibition protects from lethal endothelial damage during fulminant viral hepatitis. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 4805, 4805. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07213-x

Perforin inhibition protects from lethal endothelial damage during fulminant viral hepatitis

2018

Journal Article

Myeloma escape after stem cell transplantation is a consequence of t-cell exhaustion and is prevented by tigit blockade

Minnie, Simone A., Kuns, Rachel D., Gartlan, Kate H., Zhang, Ping, Wilkinson, Andrew N., Samson, Luke, Guillerey, Camille, Engwerda, Christian, MacDonald, Kelli P. A., Smyth, Mark J., Markey, Kate A., Vuckovic, Slavica and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Myeloma escape after stem cell transplantation is a consequence of t-cell exhaustion and is prevented by tigit blockade. Blood, 132 (16), 1675-1688. doi: 10.1182/blood-2018-01-825240

Myeloma escape after stem cell transplantation is a consequence of t-cell exhaustion and is prevented by tigit blockade

2018

Journal Article

Bone marrow transplantation generates T cell–dependent control of myeloma in mice

Vuckovic, Slavica, Minnie, Simone A., Smith, David, Gartlan, Kate H., Watkins, Thomas S., Markey, Kate A., Mukhopadhyay, Pamela, Guillerey, Camille, Kuns, Rachel D., Locke, Kelly R., Pritchard, Antonia L., Johansson, Peter A., Varelias, Antiopi, Zhang, Ping, Huntington, Nicholas D., Waddell, Nicola, Chesi, Marta, Miles, John J., Smyth, Mark J. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Bone marrow transplantation generates T cell–dependent control of myeloma in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 129 (1) CI98888, 106-121. doi: 10.1172/jci98888

Bone marrow transplantation generates T cell–dependent control of myeloma in mice

2018

Conference Publication

Syngeneic stem cell transplantation generates antigen-specific T cells that maintain myeloma-immune equilibrium

Minnie, Simone, Vuckovic, Slavica, Smith, David, Gartlan, Kate H., Watkins, Thomas S., Kuns, Rachel D., Guillerey, Camille, Chesi, Marta, Markey, Kate A., Miles, John J., Smyth, Mark J. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Syngeneic stem cell transplantation generates antigen-specific T cells that maintain myeloma-immune equilibrium. Immunology 2018™ Meeting, Austin, TX United States, 4-8 May 2018. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.200.supp.55.19

Syngeneic stem cell transplantation generates antigen-specific T cells that maintain myeloma-immune equilibrium

2018

Conference Publication

Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control graft-versus-host-disease within the colon

Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark, Ormerod, Kate, Koyama, Motoko, Olver, Stuart, Straube, Jasmin, Kuns, Rachel, Robb, Renee, Henden, Andrea, Cooper, Leanne, Lachner, Nancy, Gartlan, Kate, Lantz, Olivier J., Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Mak, Jeffrey, Fairlie, David, Clouston, Andrew, McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Lane, Steven, Hugenholtz, Phil and Hill, Geoff (2018). Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control graft-versus-host-disease within the colon. Immunology 2018™ Meeting, Austin, TX United States, 4-8 May 2018. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.200.supp.55.15

Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control graft-versus-host-disease within the colon

2018

Conference Publication

Distinct IL-6 Signaling Pathways Drive Alternate Pathogenic T Cell Differentiation And GVHD After Transplant In Vivo

Wilkinson, Andrew N., Kuns, Rachel D., Varelias, Antiopi, Vuckovic, Slavica, Rose-John, Stefan, Gartlan, Kate H. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Distinct IL-6 Signaling Pathways Drive Alternate Pathogenic T Cell Differentiation And GVHD After Transplant In Vivo. Immunology 2018™ Meeting, Austin, TX United States, 4-8 May 2018. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.200.supp.55.2

Distinct IL-6 Signaling Pathways Drive Alternate Pathogenic T Cell Differentiation And GVHD After Transplant In Vivo

2018

Journal Article

Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control GVHD within the colon

Varelias, Antiopi, Bunting, Mark D., Ormerod, Kate L., Koyama, Motoko, Olver, Stuart D., Straube, Jasmin, Kuns, Rachel D., Robb, Renee J., Henden, Andrea S., Cooper, Leanne, Lachner, Nancy, Gartlan, Kate H., Lantz, Olivier, Kjer-Nielsen, Lars, Mak, Jeffrey Y. W., Fairlie, David P., Clouston, Andrew D., McCluskey, James, Rossjohn, Jamie, Lane, Steven W., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control GVHD within the colon. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 128 (5), 1919-1936. doi: 10.1172/JCI91646

Recipient mucosal-associated invariant T cells control GVHD within the colon

2018

Journal Article

Granulocytes are unresponsive to IL-6 due to an absence of gp130

Wilkinson, Andrew N., Gartlan, Kate H., Kelly, Greg, Samson, Luke D., Olver, Stuart D., Avery, Judy, Zomerdijk, Nienke, Tey, Siok-Keen, Lee, Jason S., Vuckovic, Slavica and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Granulocytes are unresponsive to IL-6 due to an absence of gp130. Journal of Immunology, 200 (9), 3547-3555. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701191

Granulocytes are unresponsive to IL-6 due to an absence of gp130

2018

Journal Article

Conventional dendritic cells are required for the cross-presentation of leukemia-specific antigen in a model of AML relapse post-BMT

Markey, Kate A., Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Lane, Steven W. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Conventional dendritic cells are required for the cross-presentation of leukemia-specific antigen in a model of AML relapse post-BMT. Bone Marrow Transplantation, 53 (6), 800-803. doi: 10.1038/s41409-018-0148-y

Conventional dendritic cells are required for the cross-presentation of leukemia-specific antigen in a model of AML relapse post-BMT

2018

Journal Article

Flt-3L expansion of recipient CD8α+ dendritic cells deletes alloreactive donor T cells and represents an alternative to post-transplant cyclophosphamide for the prevention of GVHD

Markey, Kate A., Kuns, Rachel D., Browne, Daniel J., Gartlan, Kate H., Robb, Renee J., Martins, J. Paulo, Henden, Andrea S., Minnie, Simone A., Cheong, Melody, Koyama, Motoko, Smyth, Mark J., Steptoe, Raymond J., Belz, Gabrielle, Brocker, Thomas, Degli-Esposti, Mariapia A., Lane, Steven W. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2018). Flt-3L expansion of recipient CD8α+ dendritic cells deletes alloreactive donor T cells and represents an alternative to post-transplant cyclophosphamide for the prevention of GVHD. Clinical Cancer Research, 24 (7), 1604-1616. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-2148

Flt-3L expansion of recipient CD8α+ dendritic cells deletes alloreactive donor T cells and represents an alternative to post-transplant cyclophosphamide for the prevention of GVHD

2018

Journal Article

Development of a Multiplexed Microsphere PCR for Culture-Free Detection and Gram-Typing of Bacteria in Human Blood Samples

Liang, Fang, Browne, Daniel J., Gray, Megan J., Gartlan, Kate H., Smith, David D., Barnard, Ross T., Hill, Geoffrey R., Corrie, Simon R. and Markey, Kate A. (2018). Development of a Multiplexed Microsphere PCR for Culture-Free Detection and Gram-Typing of Bacteria in Human Blood Samples. ACS Infectious Diseases, 4 (5), 837-844. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00277

Development of a Multiplexed Microsphere PCR for Culture-Free Detection and Gram-Typing of Bacteria in Human Blood Samples

2017

Journal Article

Characterising the effect of antimalarial drugs on the maturation and clearance of murine blood-stage Plasmodium parasites in vivo

Khoury, David S., Cromer, Deborah, Elliott, Trish, Soon, Megan S. F., Thomas, Bryce S., James, Kylie R., Best, Shannon E., Aogo, Rosemary A., Engel, Jessica A., Gartlan, Kate H., Akter, Jasmin, Sebina, Ismail, Haque, Ashraful and Davenport, Miles P. (2017). Characterising the effect of antimalarial drugs on the maturation and clearance of murine blood-stage Plasmodium parasites in vivo. International Journal for Parasitology, 47 (14), 913-922. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.05.009

Characterising the effect of antimalarial drugs on the maturation and clearance of murine blood-stage Plasmodium parasites in vivo

2017

Journal Article

An activated Th17-prone T cell subset involved in chronic graft-versus-host disease sensitive to pharmacological inhibition

Forcade, Edouard, Paz, Katelyn, Flynn, Ryan, Griesenauer, Brad, Amet, Tohti, Li, Wei, Liu, Liangyi, Bakoyannis, Giorgos, Jiang, Di, Chu, Hong Wei, Lobera, Mercedes, Yang, Jianfei, Wilkes, David S., Du, Jing, Gartlan, Kate, Hill, Geoffrey R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A., Espada, Eduardo L., Blanco, Patrick, Serody, Jonathan S., Koreth, John, Cutler, Corey S., Antin, Joseph H., Soiffer, Robert J., Ritz, Jerome, Paczesny, Sophie and Blazar, Bruce R. (2017). An activated Th17-prone T cell subset involved in chronic graft-versus-host disease sensitive to pharmacological inhibition. JCI Insight, 2 (12) e92111. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.92111

An activated Th17-prone T cell subset involved in chronic graft-versus-host disease sensitive to pharmacological inhibition

2017

Conference Publication

Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome

Varelias, Antiopi, Ormerod, Kate L., Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Lachner, Nancy, Locke, Kelly R., Lim, Chun Y., Henden, Andrea S., Zhang, Ping, Clouston, Andrew D., Hasnain, Sumaira Z., McGuckin, Michael A., Blazar, Bruce R., MacDonald, Kelli P.A., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoff R. (2017). Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome. Immunology 2017™ Meeting, Washington, DC United States, 12-16 May 2017. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.198.supp.82.8

Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome

2017

Journal Article

Eomesodermin promotes the development of Type-1 Regulatory T (TR1) cells

Zhang, Ping, Lee, Jason S., Gartlan, Kate H., Schuster, Iona S., Comerford, Iain, Varelias, Antiopi, Ullah, Md Ashik, Vuckovic, Slavica, Koyama, Motoko, Kuns, Rachel D., Locke, Kelly R., Beckett, Kirrilee J., Olver, Stuart D., Samson, Luke D., Montes de Oca, Marcela, de Labastida Rivera, Fabian, Clouston, Andrew D., Belz, Gabrielle T., Blazar, Bruce R., MacDonald, Kelli P., McColl, Shaun R., Thomas, Ranjeny, Engwerda, Christian R., Degli-Esposti, Mariapia A., Kallies, Axel, Tey, Siok-Keen and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). Eomesodermin promotes the development of Type-1 Regulatory T (TR1) cells. Science Immunology, 2 (10) eaah7152. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aah7152

Eomesodermin promotes the development of Type-1 Regulatory T (TR1) cells

2017

Journal Article

Th17 plasticity and transition toward a pathogenic cytokine signature are regulated by cyclosporine after allogeneic SCT

Gartlan, Kate H., Varelias, Antiopi, Koyama, Motoko, Robb, Renee J., Markey, Kate A., Chang, Karshing, Wilkinson, Andrew N., Smith, David, Ullah, Md Ashik, Kuns, Rachel D., Raffelt, Neil C., Olver, Stuart D., Lineburg, Katie E., Teal, Bianca E., Cheong, Melody, Teng, Michele W. L., Smyth, Mark J., Tey, Siok-Keen, MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). Th17 plasticity and transition toward a pathogenic cytokine signature are regulated by cyclosporine after allogeneic SCT. Blood Advances, 1 (6), 341-351. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2016002980

Th17 plasticity and transition toward a pathogenic cytokine signature are regulated by cyclosporine after allogeneic SCT

2017

Journal Article

Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome

Varelias, Antiopi, Ormerod, Kate L., Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Lachner, Nancy, Locke, Kelly R., Lim, Chun Y., Henden, Andrea S., Zhang, Ping, Clouston, Andrew D., Hasnain, Sumaira Z., McGuckin, Michael A., Blazar, Bruce R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A ., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome. Blood, 129 (15), 2172-2185. doi: 10.1182/blood-2016-08-732628

Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome

2016

Journal Article

Sterile inflammation induced by Carbopol elicits robust adaptive immune responses in the absence of pathogen-associated molecular patterns

Gartlan, Kate H., Krashias, George, Wegmann, Frank, Hillson, William R., Scherer, Erin M., Greenberg, Philip D., Eisenbarth, Stephanie C., Moghaddam, Amin E. and Sattentau, Quentin J. (2016). Sterile inflammation induced by Carbopol elicits robust adaptive immune responses in the absence of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Vaccine, 34 (19), 2188-2196. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.025

Sterile inflammation induced by Carbopol elicits robust adaptive immune responses in the absence of pathogen-associated molecular patterns

2015

Journal Article

The carbomer-lecithin adjuvant Adjuplex has potent immunoactivating properties and elicits protective adaptive immunity against influenza virus challenge in mice

Wegmann, Frank, Moghaddam, Amin E., Schiffner, Torben, Gartlan, Kate H., Powell, Timothy J., Russell, Rebecca A., Baart, Matthijs, Carrow, Emily W. and Sattentau, Quentin J. (2015). The carbomer-lecithin adjuvant Adjuplex has potent immunoactivating properties and elicits protective adaptive immunity against influenza virus challenge in mice. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 22 (9), 1004-1012. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00736-14

The carbomer-lecithin adjuvant Adjuplex has potent immunoactivating properties and elicits protective adaptive immunity against influenza virus challenge in mice

2015

Journal Article

Imaging the immunological synapse between dendritic cells and T cells

Markey, Kate A., Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., MacDonald, Kelli P. A. and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2015). Imaging the immunological synapse between dendritic cells and T cells. Journal of Immunological Methods, 423, 40-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2015.04.029

Imaging the immunological synapse between dendritic cells and T cells

Availability

Associate Professor Kate Gartlan is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Available projects

  • What is the influence of infection driven T cell polarisation on graft-versus-host disease?

    Background: Stem cell/bone marrow transplantation (SCT/BMT) is an important curative therapy for haematological malignancies and disorders; however graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infection are two major complications of this procedure. Whilst it is well established that viral and bacterial infections influence GVHD pathogenesis, the impact of fungal infection after transplant is poorly understood. In non-transplant settings, adaptive immune responses to fungal infections are commonly associated with IL-17 production by T cells that enhance anti-fungal immunity. However our laboratory and others have demonstrated that the IL-17 differentiation pathway is pathogenic in the context of allotransplantation. We are offering a project designed to understand the relationship between fungal infection and GVHD outcomes.

    Aims: This project aims to 1) establish an in vivo infection model that can be used in conjunction with bone marrow transplant in pre-clinical experimental systems. 2) Explore the relationship between fungal infection, T cell polarisation and GVHD.

    Significance: Once established, this model will be the first of its kind and will be an important tool to examine the influence of infection on inflammatory diseases.

    Suitability: This project would suit a PhD student.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)

  • Modulating donor T cell polarisation after bone marrow transplantation to prevent graft-versus-host disease

    Background: Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is an effective cancer treatment, however its application is limited by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which has a major impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, GVHD severity and tumour clearance are positively correlated and therefore new therapies designed to reduce GVHD must be targeted, such that anti-tumour immunity is maintained. Donor T cell polarization is a critical factor influencing the severity and tissue distribution of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the potency of graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) effects after allo-SCT. We have identified a pathogenic donor T cell differentiation program that exacerbates GVHD without contributing to tumour clearance, which is characterised by a unique transcription factor expression profile.

    Aims: This study will 1) examine T cell transcription factor expression after allo-SCT in both murine and clinical samples, and 2) utilise a small molecule inhibitor that modulates transcription factor expression to assess its therapeutic potential in the context of GVHD.

    Significance: This therapeutic approach is highly novel and will provide the first essential proof-of-concept data to support small molecule modulation of T cell polarisation as a method for GVHD prevention and treatment.

    Suitability: This project would suit either Honours or PhD students.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)

  • Characterising miRNA expression after bone marrow transplantation to develop novel therapeutics

    Background: Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules (~25 nucleotides) known to play an important role in regulating inflammation. Therefore miRNA may be a novel target to treat inflammatory diseases such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD develops in >50% of leukaemia patients that receive a donor stem cell/bone marrow transplant (SCT/BMT). GVHD has a major impact on the mortality and quality-of-life for these cancer survivors, however treatment options are very limited and steroid refractory GVHD patients (~20%) have particularly high mortality rates. Unfortunately, GVHD severity and tumour clearance are positively correlated, which means a balance must be struck between providing anti-tumour immunity and reducing the risks associated with GVHD. Our laboratory is therefore investigating novel therapeutics such as miRNAs to modulate inflammatory responses after BMT/SCT.

    Aims: We are currently offering a project designed to 1) characterise miRNA expression profiles in patient serum after BMT/SCT and 2) to evaluate potential inflammatory biomarkers of GVHD.

    Significance: New therapies are urgently needed to minimise the effects of GVHD after donor SCT/BMT. This project will use molecular and cell biology techniques and clinical samples to identify potential new targets for GVHD immunotherapy.

    Suitability: This project would suit either Honours or PhD students.

    Supervisors: Dr Kate Gartlan (Kate.Gartlan@qimrberghofer.edu.au) and Prof Geoff Hill (Geoff.Hill@qimrberghofer.edu.au)

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Characterising cytotoxic T cell fates in allogeneic stem cell transplantation

    Principal Advisor

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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