Emma Hamilton-Williams
- Email:
- e.hamiltonwilliams@uq.edu.au
- Phone:
- +61 7 344 36989
Overview
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
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.
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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.
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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.
Works
Search Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams’s works on UQ eSpace
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
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
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
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, 67 (11), 2420-2432. doi: 10.1007/s00125-024-06259-5
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
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.
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Gut microbiota-based interventions to prevent type 1 diabetes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Dr Ahmed Mehdi, Dr Bree Tillett
-
Doctor Philosophy
Pregnancy and early life host-microbiota interactions in the development of type 1 diabetes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bree Tillett
-
Doctor Philosophy
Restoration of regulatory T cell responses in type 1 diabetes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Janin Chandra, Dr Anne-Sophie Bergot
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microbiome-diet interactions in type 1 diabetes progression
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bree Tillett
-
Doctor Philosophy
The receptor for advanced glycation end products and its role in Type 1 diabetes development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amelia Fotheringham, Dr Irina Buckle, Dr Sherman Leung, Honorary Professor Josephine Forbes
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Master Philosophy
Proteomic discovery of heterogeneity in lupus
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Islet-specific T cell responses in type 1 diabetes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ahmed Mehdi, Dr Hanno Nel, Professor Ranjeny Thomas
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Nanoparticle delivery systems for antigen-specific immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas, Dr Anne-Sophie Bergot
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Host-microbiota interactions involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Antigen-specific peptide immunotherapy for treatment and prevention of type 1 diabetes.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Antigen-specific T-cell responses in type 1 diabetes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas
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2022
Master Philosophy
Development of an assay for T-cell response to myeloperoxidase in MPO-ANCA associated vasculitis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Transgenic expression of proinsulin to inactivate insulin-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in autoimmune diabetes
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Development of biomarkers in peripheral blood that could predict onset of type 1 diabetes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ranjeny Thomas
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams directly for media enquiries about:
- autoimmunity
- immunotherapy
- microbiome
- type 1 diabetes
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