Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams
Associate Professor

Emma Hamilton-Williams

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 36989

Background

Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams’ career focuses on understanding how immune tolerance is disrupted leading to the development of the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes. She received her PhD from the Australian National University in 2001, followed by postdoctoral training in Germany and the Scripps Research Institute in the USA.

In 2012, she started a laboratory at the Frazer Institute, University of Queensland where she investigates the gut microbiota as a potential trigger or therapy target for type 1 diabetes, as well as developing an immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes. The overall aim of her research is to find new ways to prevent or treat the underlying immune dysfunction causing autoimmunity.

She is Chief Scientific Officer for an Australia-wide pregnancy-birth cohort study of children at increased risk of type 1 diabetes, which aims to uncover the environmental drivers of this disease. Her laboratory uses big-data approaches including proteomics, metabolomics and metagenomics to understand the function of the gut microbiota linked to disease.

She recently conducted a clinical trial of a microbiome-targeting biotherapy aimed at restoring a healthy microbiome and immune tolerance, with an ultimate aim of preventing type 1 diabetes.

Availability

Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Autoimmunity Biochemistry and cell biology Bioinformatics and computational biology Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cellular immunology Genetic immunology Genetics Immunology Medical microbiology Medical microbiology not elsewhere classified Proteomics and metabolomics Systems biology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Victoria University of Wellington
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University

Research interests

  • The gut microbiome as a trigger for type 1 diabetes

    This theme focuses on understanding disease pathogenesis in type 1 diabetes with a focus on the gut microbiota. We have pioneered the use of metaproteomics to understand host-microbiota interactions in type 1 diabetes. We are using this approach to uncover novel biomarkers associated with intestinal inflammation in type 1 diabetes and to monitor therapeutic response in gut microbiota targeted clinical trials. We are using several approaches such as metagenomics, metabolomics, in vitro assays and fecal microbiome transplant studies to understand the function of the gut microbiota linked to disease.

  • Gut-microbiota directed interventions for prevention of type 1 diabetes

    Type 1 diabetes incidence is rising due to changing environmental drivers such as the gut microbiota. We are investigating whether restoration of beneficial microbes is a potential preventative therapy for type 1 diabetes. We are investigating prebiotic diet based therapies and probiotic approaches as well as metabolite delivery to remodel the gut microbiota and restore immune tolerance to ultimately prevent type 1 diabetes.

  • Immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes

    The Hamilton-Williams lab is currently using liposomal nanoparticles to develop a vaccine to specifically prevent or treat type 1 diabetes. Liposomes are a safe and tailorable vehicle to deliver immune-modulating drugs and antigen in order to induce tolerance in islet-specific T cells. Our current work is optimising the delivery route, frequency, antigen and adjunct therapies in order to maximise disease protection from our immunotherapy. We are using humanised models to test our approach. This immunotherapy is being translated for human use with the first clinical trial starting in 2024

Research impacts

A/Prof Hamilton-Williams early work demonstrated how cytotoxic T cells initiate the attack on the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to type 1 diabetes. She showed how a number of genes linked to genetic risk for type 1 diabetes changed immune cell function causing loss of self-tolerance.

More recently, she has co-led a clinical trial of a microbiome-targeted biotherapy in adults with type 1 diabetes. This pilot study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of this approach, as well as providing preliminary evidence that the therapy was associated with positive changes in the gut microbiome, immune response and glucose control.

She is the Chief Scientific Officer of a study following ~1500 children who have a close family member with type 1 diabetes from pregnancy and through childhood. This study is unravelling the underlying drivers of type 1 diabetes including the relationship between autoimmunity and the gut microbiome, viral infections, diet and many other lifestyle factors.

A/Prof Hamilton-Williams is collaborating with other UQ researchers to develop an new immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes. She has led studies demonstrating the efficacy of the approach and unravelling the underlying mechanisms in preclinical models. This therapy is now being tested in a first-in-human clinical trial in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Search Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams’s works on UQ eSpace

69 works between 2001 and 2024
All (69) Journal Article (56) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (11)

1 - 20 of 69 works

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Metabolite-based dietary supplementation in human type 1 diabetes is associated with microbiota and immune modulation

Bell, Kirstine J., Saad, Sonia, Tillett, Bree J., McGuire, Helen M., Bordbar, Sara, Yap, Yu Anne, Nguyen, Long T., Wilkins, Marc R., Corley, Susan, Brodie, Shannon, Duong, Sussan, Wright, Courtney J., Twigg, Stephen, de St Groth, Barbara Fazekas, Harrison, Leonard C., Mackay, Charles R., Gurzov, Esteban N., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Mariño, Eliana (2022). Metabolite-based dietary supplementation in human type 1 diabetes is associated with microbiota and immune modulation. Microbiome, 10 (1) 9, 9. doi: 10.1186/s40168-021-01193-9

Metabolite-based dietary supplementation in human type 1 diabetes is associated with microbiota and immune modulation

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Intestinal metaproteomics reveals host-microbiota interactions in subjects at risk for Type 1 Diabetes

Gavin, Patrick G., Mullaney, Jane A., Loo, Dorothy, Cao, Kim-Anh Lê, Gottlieb, Peter A., Hill, Michelle M., Zipris, Danny and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Intestinal metaproteomics reveals host-microbiota interactions in subjects at risk for Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 41 (10), 2178-2186. doi: 10.2337/dc18-0777

Intestinal metaproteomics reveals host-microbiota interactions in subjects at risk for Type 1 Diabetes

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota

Mullaney, Jane A., Stephens, Juliette E., Costello, Mary-Ellen, Fong, Cai, Geeling, Brooke E., Gavin, Patrick G., Wright, Casey M., Spector, Timothy D., Brown, Matthew A. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota. Microbiome, 6 (1) 35, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0417-4

Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota

2024

Journal Article

Dietary patterns during pregnancy and maternal and birth outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes: the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study

Thomson, Rebecca L, Brown, James D, Oakey, Helena, Palmer, Kirsten, Ashwood, Pat, Penno, Megan A S, McGorm, Kelly J, Battersby, Rachel, Colman, Peter G, Craig, Maria E, Davis, Elizabeth A, Huynh, Tony, Harrison, Leonard C, Haynes, Aveni, Sinnott, Richard O, Vuillermin, Peter J, Wentworth, John M, Soldatos, Georgia, Couper, Jennifer J, ENDIA Study Group and Hamilton-Williams, Emma (ENDIA Study Group member) (2024). Dietary patterns during pregnancy and maternal and birth outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes: the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study. Diabetologia, 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s00125-024-06259-5

Dietary patterns during pregnancy and maternal and birth outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes: the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study

2024

Journal Article

Early dysglycemia is detectable using continuous glucose monitoring in very young children at risk of type 1 diabetes

Haynes, Aveni, Tully, Alexandra, Smith, Grant J, Penno, Megan A S, Craig, Maria E, Wentworth, John M, Huynh, Tony, Colman, Peter G, Soldatos, Georgia, Anderson, Amanda J, McGorm, Kelly J, Oakey, Helena, Couper, Jennifer J, Davis, Elizabeth A, ENDIA Study Group and Hamilton-Williams, Emma (ENDIA Study Group member) (2024). Early dysglycemia is detectable using continuous glucose monitoring in very young children at risk of type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 47 (10), 1750-1756. doi: 10.2337/dc24-0540

Early dysglycemia is detectable using continuous glucose monitoring in very young children at risk of type 1 diabetes

2024

Journal Article

Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) longitudinal prospective pregnancy to childhood cohort study of Australian children at risk of type 1 diabetes: parental demographics and birth information

Thomson, Rebecca L, Oakey, Helena, Haynes, Aveni, Craig, Maria E, Harrison, Leonard C, Wentworth, John M, Anderson, Amanda, Ashwood, Pat, Barry, Simon, Brittain, Bek, Brown, James D, Colman, Peter G, Davis, Elizabeth A, Hamilton-Williams, Emma, Huynh, Dao, Huynh, Tony, Kim, Ki-Wook, McGorm, Kelly J, Morahan, Grant, Rawlinson, William, Sinnott, Richard O, Soldatos, Georgia, Tye-Din, Jason A, Vuillermin, Peter J, Penno, Megan A S and Couper, Jennifer J (2024). Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) longitudinal prospective pregnancy to childhood cohort study of Australian children at risk of type 1 diabetes: parental demographics and birth information. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 12 (4) e004130, e004130-1. doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2024-004130

Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) longitudinal prospective pregnancy to childhood cohort study of Australian children at risk of type 1 diabetes: parental demographics and birth information

2024

Journal Article

Faecal microbial transfer and complex carbohydrates mediate protection against COPD

Budden, Kurtis F, Shukla, Shakti D, Bowerman, Kate L, Vaughan, Annalicia, Gellatly, Shaan L, Wood, David L A, Lachner, Nancy, Idrees, Sobia, Rehman, Saima Firdous, Faiz, Alen, Patel, Vyoma K, Donovan, Chantal, Alemao, Charlotte A, Shen, Sj, Amorim, Nadia, Majumder, Rajib, Vanka, Kanth S, Mason, Jazz, Haw, Tatt Jhong, Tillet, Bree, Fricker, Michael, Keely, Simon, Hansbro, Nicole, Belz, Gabrielle T, Horvat, Jay, Ashhurst, Thomas, van Vreden, Caryn, McGuire, Helen, Fazekas de St Groth, Barbara ... Hansbro, Philip M (2024). Faecal microbial transfer and complex carbohydrates mediate protection against COPD. Gut, 73 (5), gutjnl-2023. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-330521

Faecal microbial transfer and complex carbohydrates mediate protection against COPD

2023

Journal Article

Protocol for a nested case-control study design for omics investigations in the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity cohort

Oakey, Helena, Giles, Lynne C, Thomson, Rebecca L, Lê Cao, Kim-Anh, Ashwood, Pat, Brown, James D, Knight, Emma J, Barry, Simon C, Craig, Maria E, Colman, Peter G, Davis, Elizabeth A, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E, Harrison, Leonard C, Haynes, Aveni, Kim, Ki Wook, Mallitt, Kylie-Ann, McGorm, Kelly, Morahan, Grant, Rawlinson, William D, Sinnott, Richard O, Soldatos, Georgia, Wentworth, John M, Couper, Jennifer J, Penno, Megan A S and ENDIA Study Group (2023). Protocol for a nested case-control study design for omics investigations in the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity cohort. Annals of Medicine, 55 (1) 2198255, 1-12. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2198255

Protocol for a nested case-control study design for omics investigations in the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity cohort

2023

Journal Article

A surge in serum mucosal cytokines associated with seroconversion in children at risk for type 1 diabetes

Harrison, Leonard C., Bandala-Sanchez, Esther, Oakey, Helena, Colman, Peter G., Watson, Kelly, Kim, Ki Wook, Wu, Roy, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E, Stone, Natalie L., Haynes, Aveni, Thomson, Rebecca L., Vuillermin, Peter J., Soldatos, Georgia, Rawlinson, William D., McGorm, Kelly J., Morahan, Grant, Sinnott, Richard O., Barry, Simon C., Wentworth, John M., Couper, Jennifer J., Penno, Megan As and ENDIA Study Group (2023). A surge in serum mucosal cytokines associated with seroconversion in children at risk for type 1 diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Investigation, 14 (9), 1092-1100. doi: 10.1111/jdi.14031

A surge in serum mucosal cytokines associated with seroconversion in children at risk for type 1 diabetes

2023

Journal Article

Experiences of caregivers and at-risk children enrolled in a prospective pregnancy-birth cohort study into the causes of type 1 diabetes: the ENDIA Study

McGorm, Kelly D., Brown, James G., Roberts, Alison, Greenbank, Susan, Brasacchio, Daniella, Sawyer, Alyssa C. P., Oakey, Helena G., Colman, Peter E., Craig, Maria A., Davis, Elizabeth, Soldatos, Georgia L., Thomson, Rebecca M., Wentworth, John J., Couper, Jennifer, Penno, Megan A. S., ENDIA Study Group and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2023). Experiences of caregivers and at-risk children enrolled in a prospective pregnancy-birth cohort study into the causes of type 1 diabetes: the ENDIA Study. Children, 10 (4) ARTN 637, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/children10040637

Experiences of caregivers and at-risk children enrolled in a prospective pregnancy-birth cohort study into the causes of type 1 diabetes: the ENDIA Study

2023

Journal Article

Circulating biomarkers during progression to type 1 diabetes: a systematic review

Brenu, Ekua W., Harris, Mark and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2023). Circulating biomarkers during progression to type 1 diabetes: a systematic review. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14 1117076, 1117076. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1117076

Circulating biomarkers during progression to type 1 diabetes: a systematic review

2023

Journal Article

Islet‐specific CD8+ T cells gain effector function in the gut lymphoid tissues via bystander activation not molecular mimicry

Okada, Mirei, Zhang, Vivian, Loaiza Naranjo, Jeniffer D., Tillett, Bree J., Wong, F. Susan, Steptoe, Raymond J., Bergot, Anne‐Sophie and Hamilton‐Williams, Emma E (2023). Islet‐specific CD8+ T cells gain effector function in the gut lymphoid tissues via bystander activation not molecular mimicry. Immunology and Cell Biology, 101 (1), 36-48. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12593

Islet‐specific CD8+ T cells gain effector function in the gut lymphoid tissues via bystander activation not molecular mimicry

2022

Journal Article

Multi-omic interactions in the gut of children at the onset of islet autoimmunity

Gavin, Patrick G., Kim, Ki Wook, Craig, Maria E., Hill, Michelle M. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2022). Multi-omic interactions in the gut of children at the onset of islet autoimmunity. Microbiome, 10 (1) 230, 230. doi: 10.1186/s40168-022-01425-6

Multi-omic interactions in the gut of children at the onset of islet autoimmunity

2022

Journal Article

Mental health during late pregnancy and postpartum in mothers with and without type 1 diabetes: The ENDIA study

Hall, Madeleine, Oakey, Helena, Penno, Megan A. S., McGorm, Kelly, Anderson, Amanda J., Ashwood, Pat, Colman, Peter G., Craig, Maria E., Davis, Elizabeth A., Harris, Mark, Harrison, Leonard C., Haynes, Aveni, Morbey, Claire, Sinnott, Richard O., Soldatos, Georgia, Vuillermin, Peter J., Wentworth, John M., Thomson, Rebecca L., Couper, Jennifer J., ENDIA Study Group., Barry, Simon C., Craig, Maria E., Colman, Peter G., Couper, Jennifer J., Davis, Elizabeth A., Harris, Mark, Harrison, Leonard C., Haynes, Aveni, Kim, Ki Wook ... Cavenett, Leanne (2022). Mental health during late pregnancy and postpartum in mothers with and without type 1 diabetes: The ENDIA study. Diabetes Care, 45 (5), 1082-1090. doi: 10.2337/dc21-2335

Mental health during late pregnancy and postpartum in mothers with and without type 1 diabetes: The ENDIA study

2022

Journal Article

Women with type 1 diabetes exhibit a progressive increase in gut Saccharomyces cerevisiae in pregnancy associated with evidence of gut inflammation

Bandala-Sanchez, Esther, Roth-Schulze, Alexandra J., Oakey, Helena, Penno, Megan A.S., Bediaga, Naiara G., Naselli, Gaetano, Ngui, Katrina M., Smith, Alannah D., Huang, Dexing, Zozaya-Valdes, Enrique, Thomson, Rebecca L., Brown, James D., Vuillermin, Peter J., Barry, Simon C., Craig, Maria E., Rawlinson, William D., Davis, Elizabeth A., Harris, Mark, Soldatos, Georgia, Colman, Peter G., Wentworth, John M., Haynes, Aveni, Morahan, Grant, Sinnott, Richard O., Papenfuss, Anthony T., Couper, Jennifer J., Harrison, Leonard C., on behalf of the ENDIA Study Group and Hamilton-Williams, Emma (2022). Women with type 1 diabetes exhibit a progressive increase in gut Saccharomyces cerevisiae in pregnancy associated with evidence of gut inflammation. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 184 109189, 1-23. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2022.109189

Women with type 1 diabetes exhibit a progressive increase in gut Saccharomyces cerevisiae in pregnancy associated with evidence of gut inflammation

2022

Journal Article

Tolerance induction by liposomes targeting a single CD8 epitope IGRP in a model of type 1 diabetes is impeded by co-targeting a CD4 islet epitope

Buckle, Irina, Loaiza Naranjo, Jeniffer D., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Zhang, Vivian, Talekar, Meghna, Steptoe, Raymond J., Thomas, Ranjeny and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2022). Tolerance induction by liposomes targeting a single CD8 epitope IGRP in a model of type 1 diabetes is impeded by co-targeting a CD4 islet epitope. Immunology and Cell Biology, 100 (1), 33-48. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12506

Tolerance induction by liposomes targeting a single CD8 epitope IGRP in a model of type 1 diabetes is impeded by co-targeting a CD4 islet epitope

2021

Journal Article

Acquisition of murine splenic myeloid cells for protein and gene expression profiling by advanced flow cytometry and CITE-seq

Rødahl, Inga, Gotley, James, Andersen, Stacey B., Yu, Meihua, Mehdi, Ahmed M., Christ, Angelika N., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Frazer, Ian H., Lukowski, Samuel W. and Chandra, Janin (2021). Acquisition of murine splenic myeloid cells for protein and gene expression profiling by advanced flow cytometry and CITE-seq. STAR Protocols, 2 (4) 100842, 1-27. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100842

Acquisition of murine splenic myeloid cells for protein and gene expression profiling by advanced flow cytometry and CITE-seq

2021

Journal Article

Type 1 diabetes in pregnancy is associated with distinct changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiome

Roth-Schulze, Alexandra J., Penno, Megan A. S., Ngui, Katrina M., Oakey, Helena, Bandala-Sanchez, Esther, Smith, Alannah D., Allnutt, Theo R., Thomson, Rebecca L., Vuillermin, Peter J., Craig, Maria E., Rawlinson, William D., Davis, Elizabeth A., Harris, Mark, Soldatos, Georgia, Colman, Peter G., Wentworth, John M., Haynes, Aveni, Barry, Simon C., Sinnott, Richard O., Morahan, Grant, Bediaga, Naiara G., Smyth, Gordon K., Papenfuss, Anthony T., Couper, Jennifer J., Harrison, Leonard C., ENDIA Study Group and Hamilton-Williams, Emma (2021). Type 1 diabetes in pregnancy is associated with distinct changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiome. Microbiome, 9 (1) 167, 167. doi: 10.1186/s40168-021-01104-y

Type 1 diabetes in pregnancy is associated with distinct changes in the composition and function of the gut microbiome

2021

Journal Article

Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol

Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym, Fiveash, Corrine, Schagen, Johanna, James-McAlpine, Janelle, Friedlander, Frances, Thurston, Claire, Oliveri, Maria, Harmey, Theresa, Cavanagh, Erika, Edwards, Christopher, Fontanarosa, Davide, Perkins, Tony, de Zubicaray, Greig, Moritz, Karen, Kumar, Sailesh, Clifton, Vicki, Queensland Family Cohort Research Collaborative, Hamilton-Williams, Emma and Bora, Samudragupta (2021). Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol. BMJ Open, 11 (6) e044463, 1-13. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044463

Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol

2021

Journal Article

Metaproteomic sample preparation methods bias the recovery of host and microbial proteins according to taxa and cellular compartment

Gavin, Patrick G., Wong, Justin, Loo, Dorothy, Zipris, Danny, Hill, Michelle M. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2021). Metaproteomic sample preparation methods bias the recovery of host and microbial proteins according to taxa and cellular compartment. Journal of Proteomics, 240 104219, 104219. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104219

Metaproteomic sample preparation methods bias the recovery of host and microbial proteins according to taxa and cellular compartment

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Deep milk: comprehensive multi-omics to resolve the role of human breastmilk in type 1 diabetes risk (JDRF AU Accelerating Collab Research in T1D) administered by Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
    Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Targeting gut microbial metabolites to prevent type 1 diabetes
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Gut microbial metabolites during early-life development as predictors of islet autoimmunity
    The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Early environmental determinants of pancreatic islet autoimmunity (ENDIA) Cohort Follow-up 2023-2025 (JDRF Australia grant led by University of Adelaide)
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Microbiota-targeted dietary intervention in children with type 1 diabetes
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Tolerising antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Gut microbial metabolites during early-life development as predicators of islet autoimmunity
    Diabetes Australia Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2021
    Specialized dietary intervention in children with type 1 diabetes (APEG Research Grant Administered by Queensland Children¿s Hospital)
    Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Influence of early life and maternal host-microbiota interactions on type1 diabetes risk
    JDRF Australia and Helmsley Charitable Trust ENDIA Early-Mid Career Science Accelerator Awards
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    A specialised dietary supplement for manipulating the gut microbiota to treat type 1 diabetes
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Crosstalk between host and intestinal microorganisms in progression to islet autoimmunity
    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - International
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Maintaining immune tolerance to prevent type 1 diabetes
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Specialized dietary intervention in human type 1 diabetes (JDRF ELEVATE: Future Research Leaders Program 2018 Pilot Study led by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Oral liposomes for antigen-specific immunotherapy of type 1 diabetes
    Diabetes Australia Research Trust
    Open grant
  • 2016
    The Australian human microbiota project-microbe isolation facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Antigen-specific peptide immunotherapy targeting dendritic cells in type 1 diabetes
    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - International
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Host-Microbiota Interactions in Subjects at Risk for Type 1 Diabetes (JDRF Grant administered by University of Colorado)
    University of Colorado
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2019
    A genetic link between gut microbial flora and T1D susceptibility
    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    A novel role for the IL-2 pathway in type-1-diabetes.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Gut microbiota-targeting to prevent type 1 diabetes

    We are using human cohort and intervention studies with a multi-omic analysis approach to understand how the host and microbiota interact in the lead-up to disease onset. We are using germ-free mice colonized with human derived microbiota or individual species to study how changes in the gut flora of patients may modify the immune response and lead to disease. Finally, we are investigating novel prebiotic diets for disease prevention.

  • Antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes

    We are investigating the use of a liposome system for antigen-specific immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes. Our goal is to restore tolerance in autoreactive islet-specific T cells. We are using multi-dimensional profiling of antigen-specific T cells to optimize our immunotherapy strategy. We also use CRSIPR/Cas9 systems to study the molecular mediators of regulation induced during immunotherapy.

  • Gut microbiota-targeting to prevent type 1 diabetes

    We are using human cohort and intervention studies with a multi-omic analysis approach to understand how the host and microbiota interact in the lead-up to disease onset. We are using germ-free mice colonized with human derived microbiota or individual species to study how changes in the gut flora of patients may modify the immune response and lead to disease. Finally, we are investigating novel prebiotic diets for disease prevention.

  • Antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes

    We are investigating the use of a liposome system for antigen-specific immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes. Our goal is to restore tolerance in autoreactive islet-specific T cells. We are using multi-dimensional profiling of antigen-specific T cells to optimize our immunotherapy strategy. We also use CRSIPR/Cas9 systems to study the molecular mediators of regulation induced during immunotherapy.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams directly for media enquiries about:

  • autoimmunity
  • immunotherapy
  • microbiome
  • type 1 diabetes

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