Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams
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

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

72 works between 2001 and 2025
All (72) Journal Article (58) Book Chapter (2) Conference Publication (12)

21 - 40 of 72 works

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

2021

Journal Article

A triple threat? The role of diet, nutrition, and the microbiota in T1D pathogenesis

Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Lorca, Graciela L., Norris, Jill M. and Dunne, Jessica L. (2021). A triple threat? The role of diet, nutrition, and the microbiota in T1D pathogenesis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8 600756, 600756. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.600756

A triple threat? The role of diet, nutrition, and the microbiota in T1D pathogenesis

2021

Journal Article

An acetate‐yielding diet imprints an immune and anti‐microbial programme against enteric infection

Yap, Yu Anne, McLeod, Keiran H., McKenzie, Craig I., Gavin, Patrick G., Davalos‐Salas, Mercedes, Richards, James L., Moore, Robert J., Lockett, Trevor J., Clarke, Julie M., Eng, Vik Ven, Pearson, Jaclyn S., Hamilton‐Williams, Emma E., Mackay, Charles R. and Mariño, Eliana (2021). An acetate‐yielding diet imprints an immune and anti‐microbial programme against enteric infection. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 10 (1) e1233, e1233. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1233

An acetate‐yielding diet imprints an immune and anti‐microbial programme against enteric infection

2021

Journal Article

Proinsulin‐specific T‐cell responses correlate with estimated c‐peptide and predict partial remission duration in type 1 diabetes

Musthaffa, Yassmin, Hamilton‐Williams, Emma E, Nel, Hendrik J., Bergot, Anne‐Sophie, Mehdi, Ahmed M., Harris, Mark and Thomas, Ranjeny (2021). Proinsulin‐specific T‐cell responses correlate with estimated c‐peptide and predict partial remission duration in type 1 diabetes. Clinical & Translational Immunology, 10 (7) e1315, e1315. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1315

Proinsulin‐specific T‐cell responses correlate with estimated c‐peptide and predict partial remission duration in type 1 diabetes

2020

Journal Article

Optimization of a method to detect autoantigen-specific t-cell responses in type 1 diabetes

Musthaffa, Yassmin, Nel, Hendrik J., Ramnoruth, Nishta, Patel, Swati, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Harris, Mark and Thomas, Ranjeny (2020). Optimization of a method to detect autoantigen-specific t-cell responses in type 1 diabetes. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 587469, 587469. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.587469

Optimization of a method to detect autoantigen-specific t-cell responses in type 1 diabetes

2020

Journal Article

A Question of Tolerance—Antigen-Specific Immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes

Loaiza Naranjo, Jeniffer D., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Buckle, Irina and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2020). A Question of Tolerance—Antigen-Specific Immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes. Current Diabetes Reports, 20 (12) 70, 70. doi: 10.1007/s11892-020-01363-3

A Question of Tolerance—Antigen-Specific Immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes

2020

Journal Article

Regulatory T cells induced by single-peptide liposome immunotherapy suppress islet-Specific T cell responses to multiple antigens and protect from autoimmune diabetes

Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Buckle, Irina, Cikaluru, Sumana, Naranjo, Jennifer Loaiza, Wright, Casey Maree, Zheng, Guoliang, Talekar, Meghna, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Thomas, Ranjeny (2020). Regulatory T cells induced by single-peptide liposome immunotherapy suppress islet-Specific T cell responses to multiple antigens and protect from autoimmune diabetes. Journal of Immunology, 204 (7), ji1901128-1797. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901128

Regulatory T cells induced by single-peptide liposome immunotherapy suppress islet-Specific T cell responses to multiple antigens and protect from autoimmune diabetes

2020

Book Chapter

Microbiota derived factors as drivers of type 1 diabetes

Tillett, Bree J. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2020). Microbiota derived factors as drivers of type 1 diabetes. The microbiome in health and disease. (pp. 215-235) Cambridge, MA United States: Academic Press.

Microbiota derived factors as drivers of type 1 diabetes

2019

Journal Article

Early-life factors contributing to type 1 diabetes

Craig, Maria E., Kim, Ki Wook, Isaacs, Sonia R., Penno, Megan A., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Couper, Jennifer J. and Rawlinson, William D. (2019). Early-life factors contributing to type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia, 62 (10), 1823-1834. doi: 10.1007/s00125-019-4942-x

Early-life factors contributing to type 1 diabetes

2019

Journal Article

The gut microbiota in type 1 diabetes: friend or foe?

Gavin, Patrick G. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2019). The gut microbiota in type 1 diabetes: friend or foe?. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, 26 (4), 207-212. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000483

The gut microbiota in type 1 diabetes: friend or foe?

2018

Journal Article

Early-life exposure to gut microbiota from disease protected mice does not impact disease outcome in type 1 diabetes susceptible NOD mice

Mullaney, Jane A., Stephens, Juliette E., Geeling, Brooke E. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2018). Early-life exposure to gut microbiota from disease protected mice does not impact disease outcome in type 1 diabetes susceptible NOD mice. Immunology and Cell Biology, 97 (1), 97-103. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12201

Early-life exposure to gut microbiota from disease protected mice does not impact disease outcome in type 1 diabetes susceptible NOD mice

2018

Journal Article

Correction to: 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). Correction to: Type 1 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with distinct alterations in the gut microbiota. Microbiome, 6 (1), 51. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0438-z

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

2018

Journal Article

A peripheral blood transcriptomic signature predicts autoantibody development in infants at risk of type 1 diabetes

Mehdi, Ahmed M., Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Cristino, Alexandre, Ziegler, Anette, Bonifacio, Ezio, Le Cao, Kim-Anh, Harris, Mark and Thomas, Ranjeny (2018). A peripheral blood transcriptomic signature predicts autoantibody development in infants at risk of type 1 diabetes. JCI Insight, 3 (5) e98212. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.98212

A peripheral blood transcriptomic signature predicts autoantibody development in infants at risk of type 1 diabetes

2018

Conference Publication

Antigen-Specific CD4 regulation by Liposomes encapsulating calcitriol and ChgA mimotope in NOD mice

Bergot, A. S., Buckle,, Wright, C., Talekar, M., Hamilton-Williams, E. and Thomas, R. (2018). Antigen-Specific CD4 regulation by Liposomes encapsulating calcitriol and ChgA mimotope in NOD mice. 15th International Symposium on Dendritic Cells (DC), Aachen, Germany, 10-14 June 2018. Hoboken, NJ, United States: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/eji.201871000

Antigen-Specific CD4 regulation by Liposomes encapsulating calcitriol and ChgA mimotope in NOD mice

2017

Journal Article

CD11a/ICAM-1 blockade combined with IL-2 targeting therapy causes a paradoxical acceleration of type 1 diabetes

Brenu, Ekua W., Bartley, Timothy J., Wright, Casey M. and Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. (2017). CD11a/ICAM-1 blockade combined with IL-2 targeting therapy causes a paradoxical acceleration of type 1 diabetes. Immunology and Cell Biology, 95 (9), 803-813. doi: 10.1038/icb.2017.49

CD11a/ICAM-1 blockade combined with IL-2 targeting therapy causes a paradoxical acceleration of type 1 diabetes

2017

Journal Article

Antigen presenting cell-targeted proinsulin expression converts insulin-specific CD8+ T-cell priming to tolerance in autoimmune-prone NOD mice

Reeves, Peta L. S., Rudraraju, Rajeev, Wong, F. Susan, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Steptoe, Raymond J. (2017). Antigen presenting cell-targeted proinsulin expression converts insulin-specific CD8+ T-cell priming to tolerance in autoimmune-prone NOD mice. European Journal of Immunology, 47 (9), 1550-1561. doi: 10.1002/eji.201747089

Antigen presenting cell-targeted proinsulin expression converts insulin-specific CD8+ T-cell priming to tolerance in autoimmune-prone NOD mice

2017

Journal Article

APC-targeted proinsulin expression inactivates insulin-specific memory CD8+ T cells in NOD mice

Reeves, Peta L. S., Rudraraju, Rajeev, Liu, Xiao, Wong, F. Susan, Hamilton-Williams, Emma E. and Steptoe, Raymond J. (2017). APC-targeted proinsulin expression inactivates insulin-specific memory CD8+ T cells in NOD mice. Immunology and Cell Biology, 95 (9), 765-774. doi: 10.1038/icb.2017.48

APC-targeted proinsulin expression inactivates insulin-specific memory CD8+ T cells in NOD mice

2017

Conference Publication

Antigen specific immunotherapy for autoimmune disease targeting dendritic cells

Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Talekar, Meghna, Nel, Hanno, Galea, Ryan, Harris, Mark, Hamilton-Williams, Emma and Thomas, Ranjeny (2017). Antigen specific immunotherapy for autoimmune disease targeting dendritic cells. 5th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS), Kanazawa Japan, 29 October - 2 November 2017. London United Kingdom: Elsevier.

Antigen specific immunotherapy for autoimmune disease targeting dendritic cells

2016

Journal Article

Maintenance of peripheral tolerance to islet antigens

Hamilton-Williams, Emma E., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Reeves, Peta L. S and Steptoe, Raymond J. (2016). Maintenance of peripheral tolerance to islet antigens. Journal of Autoimmunity, 72, 118-125. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.05.009

Maintenance of peripheral tolerance to islet antigens

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    When is the critical window to intervene in early life to reduce the impact of overweight on the risk of type 1 diabetes? (Diabetes SA Grant led by The University of Adelaide)
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 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

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
  • 2021 - 2024
    Tolerising antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    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

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 Professor Emma Hamilton-Williams directly for media enquiries about:

  • autoimmunity
  • immunotherapy
  • microbiome
  • type 1 diabetes

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