![Professor Trent Woodruff](/sites/default/files/profiles/614.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Dr Woodruff is a Professor of Pharmacology who leads a research team aiming to find new therapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Current therapies for these diseases are vastly inadequate, and so new research is needed to identify novel targets to slow or halt their progression. Prof Woodruff’s specific research revolves around the innate immune system in the brain, and the role of neuroinflammation in propagating disease. A key focus of his current work is testing new drugs developed at the University of Queensland in models of motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson's disease, as well as maintaining an active interest in acute inflammatory disorders including sepsis and ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Using a series of potent and orally active complement C5a and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors developed at UQ, Prof Woodruff's team has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of targeting innate immune-mediated neuroinflammation to reduce neuronal cell death in animal models of these neurodegenerative diseases. His team has recently shown that in addition to their roles in neurodegeneration, innate immune factors also play essential roles in stem and neuronal cell development during embryogenesis, revealing the widespread physiological and pathological roles of this evolutionarily ancient immune system.
Availability
- Professor Trent Woodruff is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Neurodegenerative disease
Studying new treatments to halt disease progression
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Parkinson's disease
Studying new treatments to halt disease progression
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Motor neuron disease
Studying new treatments to halt disease progression
Works
Search Professor Trent Woodruff’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Chemical synthesis and characterisation of the complement C5 inhibitory peptide zilucoplan
Gorman, Declan M., Lee, John, Payne, Colton D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Clark, Richard J. (2021). Chemical synthesis and characterisation of the complement C5 inhibitory peptide zilucoplan. Amino Acids, 53 (1), 143-147. doi: 10.1007/s00726-020-02921-5
2020
Journal Article
TDP-43 Puts the STING in ALS
Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). TDP-43 Puts the STING in ALS. Trends in Neurosciences, 44 (2), 81-82. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.12.001
2020
Journal Article
Tissue-type plasminogen activator and tenecteplase-mediated increase in blood brain barrier permeability involves cell intrinsic complement
Keragala, Charithani B., Woodruff, Trent M., Liu, Zikou, Niego, Be'eri, Ho, Heidi, McQuilten, Zoe and Medcalf, Robert L. (2020). Tissue-type plasminogen activator and tenecteplase-mediated increase in blood brain barrier permeability involves cell intrinsic complement. Frontiers in Neurology, 11 577272, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.577272
2020
Journal Article
Complement peptide receptors (version 2020.5) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database
Cianciulli, Antonia, Coulthard, Liam, Hawksworth, Owen, Lee, John D., Li, Xiang X., Mitolo, Vincenzo, Monk, Peter, Panaro, Maria A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Complement peptide receptors (version 2020.5) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE, 2020 (5). doi: 10.2218/gtopdb/f5/2020.5
2020
Journal Article
Is the C3a receptor antagonist SB290157 a useful pharmacological tool?
Lee, John D., Taylor, Stephen M. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Is the C3a receptor antagonist SB290157 a useful pharmacological tool?. British Journal of Pharmacology, 177 (24) bph.15264, 5677-5678. doi: 10.1111/bph.15264
2020
Journal Article
A validated quantitative method for the assessment of neuroprotective barrier impairment in neurodegenerative disease models
Kumar, Vinod, Lee, John D., Coulson, Elizabeth J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). A validated quantitative method for the assessment of neuroprotective barrier impairment in neurodegenerative disease models. Journal of Neurochemistry, 158 (3) jnc.15119, 807-817. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15119
2020
Journal Article
COVID-19: Complement, coagulation, and collateral damage
Lo, Martin W., Kemper, Claudia and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). COVID-19: Complement, coagulation, and collateral damage. The Journal of Immunology, 205 (6), ji2000644-1495. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000644
2020
Journal Article
Absence of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (RAGE) Reduces Inflammation and Extends Survival in the hSOD1 Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Lee, John D., McDonald, Tanya S., Fung, Jenny N. T. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Absence of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (RAGE) Reduces Inflammation and Extends Survival in the hSOD1 Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Molecular Neurobiology, 57 (10), 4143-4155. doi: 10.1007/s12035-020-02019-9
2020
Journal Article
Sustained-release ketamine-loaded nanoparticles fabricated by sequential nanoprecipitation
Han, Felicity Y., Liu, Yun, Kumar, Vinod, Xu, Weizhi, Yang, Guangze, Zhao, Chun-Xia, Woodruff, Trent M., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Smith, Maree T. (2020). Sustained-release ketamine-loaded nanoparticles fabricated by sequential nanoprecipitation. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 581 119291, 119291. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119291
2020
Journal Article
Emerging insights into the structure and function of complement C5a receptors
Pandey, Shubhi, Maharana, Jagannath, Li, Xaria X., Woodruff, Trent M. and Shukla, Arun K. (2020). Emerging insights into the structure and function of complement C5a receptors. Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 45 (8), 693-705. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.04.004
2020
Conference Publication
T cell-intrinsic C5L2 activation protects against uncontrolled inflammatory Th responses and autoimmunity
West, Erin E., Freeley, Simon, Kolev, Martin, Niyonzima, Nathalie, Mogensen, Trine Hyrup, Woodruff, Trent M., Monk, Peter, Lappegard, Knut, Espevik, Terje, Mollnes, Tom Eirik, Christiansen, Mette and Kemper, Claudia (2020). T cell-intrinsic C5L2 activation protects against uncontrolled inflammatory Th responses and autoimmunity. Immunology 2020™ Meeting, Honolulu, HI United States, 8 - 12 May 2020. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.204.supp.150.23
2020
Journal Article
The peripheral immune system and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
McCombe, Pamela A., Lee, John D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Henderson, Robert D. (2020). The peripheral immune system and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology, 11 279, 279. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00279
2020
Journal Article
The potential interplay between energy metabolism and innate complement activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
McDonald, Tanya S., McCombe, Pamela A., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2020). The potential interplay between energy metabolism and innate complement activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The FASEB Journal, 34 (6) fj.201901781, 7225-7233. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901781
2020
Journal Article
Complement: bridging the innate and adaptive immune systems in sterile inflammation
Lo, Martin W. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Complement: bridging the innate and adaptive immune systems in sterile inflammation. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 108 (1) JLB.3MIR0220-270R, 339-351. doi: 10.1002/jlb.3mir0220-270r
2020
Journal Article
Low-fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking
Fu, Changkui, Demir, Baris, Alcantara, Sheilajen, Kumar, Vinod, Han, Felicity, Kelly, Hannah, Tan, Xiao, Yu, Ye, Xu, Weizhi, Zhao, Jiacheng, Zhang, Cheng, Peng, Hui, Boyer, Cyrille, Woodruff, Trent, Kent, Stephen, Searles, Debra and Whittaker, Andrew (2020). Low-fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 59 (12), 4729-4735. doi: 10.1002/anie.201914119
2020
Journal Article
Editorial: The Role of Complement in Tumors
Rolfe, Barbara E., Pio, Ruben, Woodruff, Trent M., Markiewski, Maciej M. and Manthey, Helga D. (2020). Editorial: The Role of Complement in Tumors. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 139, 139. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00139
2020
Journal Article
Low‐fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking
Fu, Changkui, Demir, Baris, Alcantara, Sheilajen, Kumar, Vinod, Han, Felicity, Kelly, Hannah G., Tan, Xiao, Yu, Ye, Xu, Weizhi, Zhao, Jiacheng, Zhang, Cheng, Peng, Hui, Boyer, Cyrille, Woodruff, Trent M., Kent, Stephen J., Searles, Debra J. and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2020). Low‐fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking. Angewandte Chemie, 132 (12), 4759-4765. doi: 10.1002/ange.201914119
2020
Journal Article
The microglial NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis proteins
Deora, Vandana, Lee, John D., Albornoz, Eduardo A., McAlary, Luke, Jagaraj, Cyril J., Robertson, Avril A. B., Atkin, Julie D, Cooper, Matthew A., Schroder, Kate, Yerbury, Justin J., Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). The microglial NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis proteins. Glia, 68 (2) glia.23728, 407-421. doi: 10.1002/glia.23728
2020
Journal Article
Preclinical pharmacokinetics of complement C5a receptor antagonists PMX53 and PMX205 in mice
Kumar, Vinod, Lee, John D., Clark, Richard J., Noakes, Peter G., Taylor, Stephen M. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Preclinical pharmacokinetics of complement C5a receptor antagonists PMX53 and PMX205 in mice. ACS Omega, 5 (5) acsomega.9b03735, 2345-2354. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03735
2020
Journal Article
Deep phenotyping detects a pathological CD4+ T-cell complosome signature in systemic sclerosis
Arbore, Giuseppina, Ong, Voon H., Costantini, Benedetta, Denton, Christopher P., Abraham, David, Placais, Leo, Blighe, Kevin, Mitchell, Lynne, Ellis, Richard, Heck, Susanne, Nocerino, Paola, Woodruff, Trent M., Kordasti, Shahram, Kemper, Claudia and Hourcade, Dennis E. (2020). Deep phenotyping detects a pathological CD4+ T-cell complosome signature in systemic sclerosis. Cellular & Molecular Immunology, 17 (9), 1010-1013. doi: 10.1038/s41423-019-0360-8
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Trent Woodruff is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Role of immune and inflammatory pathways in the progression of neurodegenerative disease
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Elucidating the Role of Neuronal C5aR1
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mark Bellingham
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Doctor Philosophy
Preclinical evaluation of complement receptor targeted drugs for neurological disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr John Lee, Dr Vinod Kumar
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Doctor Philosophy
Therapeutic blockade of neuroinflammation for the treatment of Huntington's disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Eduardo Albornoz Balmaceda
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Doctor Philosophy
Design and development of peptide ligands targeting the complement system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark
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Doctor Philosophy
A novel treatment for chronic pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Maree Smith, Dr Andy Kuo, Dr Felicity Han
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Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the Role of Astrocytes in Motor Neuron Disease to discover new therapeutic targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of terminal complement pathway in neurodevelopment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Jenny Fung
-
Doctor Philosophy
Complement in subarachnoid haemorrhage
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Liam Coulthard
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Neutrophils in Motor Neuron Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee, Dr Cedric Cui
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of neuronal complement activation in Motor Neuron Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of C5a and ß-1 adrenergic receptors on cardiovascular function in cats
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wally Thomas, Professor Paul Mills
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Doctor Philosophy
The potential role of CXCR2 activation in motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr Jenny Fung, Dr John Lee
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Complement Modulation of Peripheral Immunity in Motor Neurone Disease and Huntington's Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Professor Naomi Wray
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Preclinical development of complement C5aR1 antagonists for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr John Lee, Dr Vinod Kumar, Dr Felicity Han
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Immunopharmacology of the Complement C5a Receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Richard Clark, Dr John Lee, Professor Mark Blaskovich
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The role of GPR43 in neuroinflammation and the hSOD1G93A mouse model of motor neuron disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Dr Richard Gordon
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacological targeting of the inflammasome: towards novel therapeutics for Parkinson's disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Avril Robertson, Dr Richard Gordon
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Contribution of innate immune signalling to microglial activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes, Dr Richard Gordon
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the role of C5a-C5aR1 signalling in development through pluripotent stem cell modelling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ernst Wolvetang, Dr David Simmons
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of the C5a Receptor, C5aR2, in Neurodegenerative Disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Gordon
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Pharmacokinetics of complement C5a receptor 1 antagonists in mice, and their role in protecting CNS barriers during neurodegeneration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The Anaphylatoxin Receptors in Neural Progenitor Cell Physiology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Simmons
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The role of complement anaphylatoxin receptors in mammary tumour growth: identification of new therapeutic targets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe, Dr Wenyi Gu
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of the Complement System in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Role of innate immune complement and toll-like receptor signalling in neurodegeneration.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The role of complement anaphylatoxin receptors in intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury: Pathophysiology and mechanism of action
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The generation and role of complement factor C5a during cerebral brain ischemia/reperfusion.
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Novel disease-modifying therapeutic targets for neuroinflammation and progressive neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease and motor neuron disease.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Gordon
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Design and Development of Peptides Targeting the C5a-C5aR Interaction
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Johan Rosengren, Associate Professor Richard Clark
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Modulating innate immune responses through the putative anti-inflammatory target FFA2
Associate Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Deciphering the role of innate and adaptive immunity following traumatic spinal cord injury: a route to improved outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Contribution of complement anaphylatoxin receptors to melanoma growth: potential therapeutic targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe, Dr Wenyi Gu
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Complement Anaphylatoxin Receptors in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Marc Ruitenberg
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The role of complement in epilepsy: A specific focus on C5ar1 and its role in seizure initiation and disease development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Role of complement in ALS: regulating peripheral immune cells in skeletal muscle of hSOD1G93A mouse model of ALS
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Cellular and molecular insights into multiple sclerosis-induced neuropathic pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Maree Smith
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of C5a in Pregnancy and Fetal Development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Leonie Callaway
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Novel receptor-mediated mechanisms and treatment strategies in ischemic stroke therapy
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Trent Woodruff directly for media enquiries about:
- Drug Development
- Huntington's disease
- motor neuron disese
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Parkinson's disease
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