Dr Janin Chandra
Dr

Janin Chandra

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Phone: 
+61 7 344 36976

Background

I received my Master of Science from the Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe Universitaet in Frankfurt am Main in Germany. I completed my Master’s project at the Paul Ehrlich Federal Institute for Sera and Vaccines in Langen where I investigated the impact of vaccinia virus‐induced type I interferons on T cells. Between 2007 and 2011, I completed my PhD studies in the Department of Experimental Immunology of the University of Zurich in Switzerland mentored by Prof. Burkhard Becher, where I investigated the role of NFkB‐inducing kinase (NIK) in cell‐mediated immunity and autoimmunity. It was then that I specialized in professional antigen-presenting cells and their properties in health and disease.

In 2012, I received a 3-year post-doctoral research fellowship to join Prof. Ian Frazer's research team at the University of Queensland (UQ). My studies here focussed on the role of different types of professional antigen-presenting cells in human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven immune suppression that enables development of cervical cancer and a proportion of head and neck cancers. In 2015, I joined the team of biotech company Admedus Vaccines Pty Ltd. as Senior Scientist, with the aim to develop immunotherapeutic vaccine strategies to combat chronic herpes-simplex 2 infections and HPV-induced malignancies. I delivered a pre-clinical research program leading to 3 clinical trials. In 2019, I re-joined UQ as Research Fellow, where I continued my research interest in human papillomavirus-driven immune suppression in antigen-presenting cells, with the aim to develop new experimental therapies that can modulate the performance of these cells.

Since 2023, I lead my own lab at the UQ Frazer Institute and focussed on deciphering in situ and systemic immune regulations of professional antigen-presenting cells, with a special interest in skin and mucosal squamous epithelium in health and disease.

Availability

Dr Janin Chandra is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Immunology, Universität Zürich

Search Professor Janin Chandra’s works on UQ eSpace

49 works between 2009 and 2026
All (49) Journal Article (40) Other Outputs (5) Conference Publication (3) Book Chapter (1)

41 - 49 of 49 works

2016

Conference Publication

Immunotherapy for persisting viral infection and associated cancer

Frazer, I, Mattarollo, S., Leggatt, G., Wells, J., Tuong, K., Kuo, P., Jazayeri, S., Lambert, P. and Chandra, J. (2016). Immunotherapy for persisting viral infection and associated cancer. ICI 2016 International Congress of Immunology, Melbourne, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley.

Immunotherapy for persisting viral infection and associated cancer

2013

Journal Article

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity contributes to local immune suppression in the skin expressing human papillomavirus oncoprotein E7

Mittal, Deepak, Kassianos, Andrew. J, Tran, Lee S., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Gosmann, Christina, Hofmann, Janin, Blumenthal, Antje, Leggatt, Graham R. and Frazer, Ian H. (2013). Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity contributes to local immune suppression in the skin expressing human papillomavirus oncoprotein E7. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 133 (12), 2686-2694. doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.222

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity contributes to local immune suppression in the skin expressing human papillomavirus oncoprotein E7

2011

Journal Article

Dietary α-linolenic acid diminishes experimental atherogenesis and restricts T cell-driven inflammation

Winnik, Stephan, Lohmann, Christine, Richter, Eva K., Schäfer, Nicola, Song, Wen-Liang, Leiber, Florian, Mocharla, Pavani, Hofmann, Janin, Klingenberg, Roland, Borén, Jan, Becher, Burkhard, FitzGerald, Garret A., Lüscher, Thomas F., Matter, Christian M. and Beer, Jürg H. (2011). Dietary α-linolenic acid diminishes experimental atherogenesis and restricts T cell-driven inflammation. European Heart Journal, 32 (20), 2573-2584. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehq501

Dietary α-linolenic acid diminishes experimental atherogenesis and restricts T cell-driven inflammation

2011

Journal Article

NIK signaling in dendritic cells but not in T cells is required for the development of effector T cells and cell-mediated immune responses

Hofmann, Janin, Mair, Florian, Greter, Melanie, Schmidt-Supprian, Marc and Becher, Burkhard (2011). NIK signaling in dendritic cells but not in T cells is required for the development of effector T cells and cell-mediated immune responses. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 208 (9), 1917-1929. doi: 10.1084/jem.20110128

NIK signaling in dendritic cells but not in T cells is required for the development of effector T cells and cell-mediated immune responses

2010

Journal Article

Concomitant type I IFN receptor-triggering of T cells and of DC is required to promote maximal modified vaccinia virus Ankara-induced T-cell expansion

Frenz, Theresa, Waibler, Zoe, Hofmann, Janin, Hamdorf, Matthias, Lantermann, Markus, Reizis, Boris, Tovey, Michael G., Aichele, Peter, Sutter, Gerd and Kalinke, Ulrich (2010). Concomitant type I IFN receptor-triggering of T cells and of DC is required to promote maximal modified vaccinia virus Ankara-induced T-cell expansion. European Journal of Immunology, 40 (10), 2769-2777. doi: 10.1002/eji.201040453

Concomitant type I IFN receptor-triggering of T cells and of DC is required to promote maximal modified vaccinia virus Ankara-induced T-cell expansion

2010

Journal Article

SIRT1 decreases Lox-1-mediated foam cell formation in atherogenesis

Stein, Sokrates, Lohmann, Christine, Schaefer, Nicola, Hofmann, Janin, Rohrer, Lucia, Besler, Christian, Rothgiesser, Karin M., Becher, Burkhard, Hottiger, Michael O., Boren, Jan, McBurney, Michael W., Landmesser, Ulf, Luescher, Thomas F. and Matter, Christian M. (2010). SIRT1 decreases Lox-1-mediated foam cell formation in atherogenesis. European Heart Journal, 31 (18), 2301-2309. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehq107

SIRT1 decreases Lox-1-mediated foam cell formation in atherogenesis

2010

Journal Article

Histamine H1 receptor promotes atherosclerotic lesion formation by increasing vascular permeability for low-density lipoproteins

Rozenberg, Izabela, Sluka, Susanna H. M., Rohrer, Lucia, Hofmann, Janin, Becher, Burkhard, Akhmedov, Alexander, Soliz, Jorge, Mocharla, Pavani, Boren, Jan, Johansen, Pal, Steffel, Jan, Watanabe, Takeshi, Luescher, Thomas F. and Tanner, Felix C. (2010). Histamine H1 receptor promotes atherosclerotic lesion formation by increasing vascular permeability for low-density lipoproteins. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 30 (5), 923-U92. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.109.201079

Histamine H1 receptor promotes atherosclerotic lesion formation by increasing vascular permeability for low-density lipoproteins

2010

Journal Article

B-cells need a proper house, whereas T-cells are happy in a cave: the dependence of lymphocytes on secondary lymphoid tissues during evolution

Hofmann, Janin, Greter, Melanie, Du Pasquier, Louis and Becher, Burkhard (2010). B-cells need a proper house, whereas T-cells are happy in a cave: the dependence of lymphocytes on secondary lymphoid tissues during evolution. Trends in Immunology, 31 (4), 144-153. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2010.01.003

B-cells need a proper house, whereas T-cells are happy in a cave: the dependence of lymphocytes on secondary lymphoid tissues during evolution

2009

Journal Article

Neo-lymphoid aggregates in the adult liver can initiate potent cell-mediated immunity

Greter, Melanie, Hofmann, Janin and Becher, Burkhard (2009). Neo-lymphoid aggregates in the adult liver can initiate potent cell-mediated immunity. PLoS Biology, 7 (5) e1000109, e1000109. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000109

Neo-lymphoid aggregates in the adult liver can initiate potent cell-mediated immunity

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    A New Frontier in Treating Aggressive Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas
    TRI Leading Innovations through New Collaborations Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Targeting cancer associated fibroblasts to overcome immune cell exclusion in head and neck cancer
    Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation Mid-Career Fellowship
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Onco-Derm: a single site prospective analysis of skin microbiome as a predictor of toxicity in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy
    Microba Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    The effects of negative pressure on peripheral nerve regeneration (2023 MSH Co-funded grant with Griffith Uni, administered by MSH)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Elucidating early carcinogenic mechanisms dysregulating Langerhans cell differentiation during experimental oral squamous cell carcinoma (ZCAI Grant led by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
    The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Assessment of predictors of response to checkpoint blockade
    PA Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Cell therapies for improved treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (externally led by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    The role of different dendritic cell subsets in the clearance of papillomavirus infection
    UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Janin Chandra is:
Available for supervision

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

Available projects

  • Decoding the Role of Non-Immune Skin Cells in Antigen Presentation and T Cell Polarisation Across Preclinical Models of Skin Dysregulation

    This project will leverage advanced mouse models of skin disease, including imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation and chronic UV irradiation, to dissect the in vivo contribution of immune and non-immune derived MHC-II to CD4+ T cell recruitment and polarisation. Using lineage-specific MHC-II knockout mice (targeting dendritic cells, macrophages/Langerhans cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts), the student will systematically compare how professional and unconventional antigen-presenting cells shape immune homeostasis and disease severity. The project will employ high-parameter spectral flow cytometry, single-cell RNA/TCR sequencing, and histopathological analysis to map immune phenotypes and disease outcomes. This work will clarify the cellular mechanisms that drive pathogenic versus regulatory T cell responses in different skin disease contexts, providing foundational knowledge for targeted immunomodulatory therapies.

  • Harnessing Skin-Resident Antigen-Presenting Cells to Optimize Adaptive Immune Responses Following Skin-Applied Vaccination

    This project will investigate how lineage-specific MHC-II expression in skin-resident cells influences the quality of adaptive immune responses after skin-applied vaccination. Using genetically engineered mice with targeted deletion of MHC-II in dendritic cells, keratinocytes, or fibroblasts, the student will immunize animals with antigens and adjuvants to the skin. The project will assess CD4+ and CD8+ T cell priming, T follicular helper cell development, germinal center formation, and antibody responses using flow cytometry, cytokine bead arrays, and ELISA. By distinguishing the roles of professional versus non-professional antigen-presenting cells in vaccine-induced immunity, this research will inform the design of next-generation skin-targeted vaccines and immunotherapies. The student will gain expertise in preclinical vaccination models, immunological assays, and translational research within a collaborative and well-resourced environment.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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