Gabrielle Belz

Understanding mucosal immunity

The picture of the network governing the mucosal immunity and how the different immune populations interplay is only just emerging, but it is already opening a whole new array of exciting possibilities for immune regulation and immunotherapeutic strategies. Our current projects aim to provide a new dimension to this emerging field in understanding how mucosal epithelial cells interact with immune cells to drive mucosal immunosurveillance, homeostasis and immunity. We have developed a number of new tools to dissect this epithelial immune network and understand its regulation in immunity.

Delineating long-term protective immunity to pathogen infection

Our work aims to understand how the immune system responds to infections including viruses, bacteria and parasites. We endeavour to elucidate how different types of immune cells develop, and what factors influences their decision to become one type of immune cell or another. Understanding how the body deals with pathogens will give clues about how to enhance protective immunity. Our goal is to discover new therapies that boost our immune system to protect against infection.

Our research focuses on:

• Elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the generation of protective immunity in response to lung and gastrointestinal pathogens including influenza, herpesvirus and intestinal bacterial infections
• How protective immunity breaks down in chronic overwhelming infections
• Identifying factors that can promote host immune responses and potent long-lived protective immunological memory

Unravelling immune signalling networks in mucosal immunity

Mucosal surfaces are critical interfaces where host-environment interactions occur, and the interplay between epithelial cells and immune components is essential for balancing tolerance and immunity. Disruptions to mucosal barrier integrity have profound consequences, contributing to the onset and progression of numerous diseases. Moreover, mucosal surfaces are key entry points for pathogens, including emerging viral threats, making a robust barrier indispensable for preventing infection. Despite the importance of this barrier, our understanding of how it is regulated and integrates signals from the microbiome to the immune cells is poorly understood.

This exciting opportunity aims to unravel the intricate interactions between immune cells and epithelial tissues, with a focus on understanding their roles in maintaining barrier integrity and immune homeostasis in mucosal environments such as the gut, lungs, and skin. This project will investigate how epithelial cells communicate with innate and adaptive immune cells to modulate responses to microbial, dietary, and environmental stimuli.

Utilizing cutting-edge approaches including advanced imaging, organoid co-culture systems, multiomics, and animal models, the candidate will uncover molecular mechanisms that underpin immune-epithelial cross-talk. The findings will unravel new knowledge that sets the foundation for the development of new strategies for diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and other epithelial barrier disorders.

The Belz Laboratory

The successful candidate will join a dynamic and interdisciplinary research team in a supportive academic environment. Our team is composed of highly collaborative passionate post-doctoral scientists, research assistants and PhD students with diverse backgrounds. We have expertise in state-of the art imaging, multi-dimensional flow cytometry and mucosal immunology. We provide a unique, collaborative environment and opportunity to develop diverse skill-sets and make impactful discoveries.

Frazer Institute at the University of Queensland

The Frazer Institute at the University of Queensland offers a dynamic and collaborative research environment dedicated to advancing biomedical innovation. Situated in Brisbane, a vibrant and rapidly growing hub for science and technology, the Institute provides access to world-class facilities and resources in a stunning subtropical setting.

As a leading research centre, the Frazer Institute fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts in immunology, molecular biology, and translational medicine. Its strategic partnerships with hospitals, biotech industries, and global research networks enable researchers to translate discoveries into real-world applications.

The Institute is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, including single-cell genomics, high-resolution imaging, organoid platforms, and advanced proteomics. These cutting-edge tools empower researchers to explore complex biological questions with unprecedented precision.

With its emphasis on mentorship, innovation, and impact-driven research, the Frazer Institute offers exceptional opportunities for scientists aiming to contribute to transformative discoveries in health and medicine.

The Frazer Institute is committed to diversity and equal opportunity and the development of emerging researchers at the highest level.