Dr. Lee is an early career researcher who has training in neuroscience, and additional experience in pharmacology and immunity. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2014 and continued his post-doctoral research studies in the field of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. He is currently an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow at UQ's School of Biomedical Sciences, where he focusses on innate immune and inflammatory pathways including the complement system and inflammasomes in motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and COVID-19. Current therapies for these diseases are lacking and hence there is an urgent need for new research to identify new therapeutic targets and approaches to slow or halt disease progression. Dr. Lee’s research has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of multiple anti-inflammatory drugs targeting innate immune-mediated neuroinflammation to reduce neuronal cell death in animal models of neurodegenerative disease. He also has an emerging interest in the links between the immune system, stress response, and energy metabolism in neurodegeneration.
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
Journal Article: Complement dysregulation in the central nervous system during development and disease
Lee, John D., Coulthard, Liam G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). Complement dysregulation in the central nervous system during development and disease. Seminars in Immunology, 45 101340, 101340. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.101340
Journal Article: Revisiting the role of the innate immune complement system in ALS
Parker, Sandra E., Hanton, Angela M., Stefanou, Stephen N., Noakes, Peter G., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2019). Revisiting the role of the innate immune complement system in ALS. Neurobiology of Disease, 127, 223-232. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.03.003
Journal Article: Complement components are upregulated and correlate with disease progression in the TDP-43 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lee, John D., Levin, Samantha C., Willis, Emily F., Li, Rui, Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2018). Complement components are upregulated and correlate with disease progression in the TDP-43 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 15 (1) 171, 171. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1217-2
Lee, John D., Kumar, Vinod, Fung, Jenny N. T., Ruitenberg, Marc J., Noakes, Peter G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Pharmacological inhibition of complement C5a-C5a1 receptor signalling ameliorates disease pathology in the hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. British Journal of Pharmacology, 173 (8), 689-699. doi: 10.1111/bph.13730
Journal Article: Dysregulation of the complement cascade in the hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lee, John D., Kamaruzaman, Nur A., Fung, Jenny N. T., Taylor, Stephen M., Turner, Bradley J., Atkin, Julie D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2013). Dysregulation of the complement cascade in the hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 10 (1) 119, 119. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-10-119
C9orf72 dipeptide-mediated activation of microglia as a therapeutic target for MND
(2023–2024) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
Therapeutic potential of targeting one of the core players of inflammation (Inflammasome) in MND
(2023–2024) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
Profiling monocytes in MND to assess disease progression and heterogeneity
(2022–2024) Cure for MND Foundation - Impact Grants
The Role of Neutrophils in Motor Neuron Disease
Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the Role of Astrocytes in Motor Neuron Disease to discover new therapeutic targets
Doctor Philosophy
The potential role of CXCR2 activation in motor neuron disease
Doctor Philosophy
The role of innate immune and inflammatory pathways in neurodegenerative diseases
The link between innate immune system and energy metabolism and its contribution to neurodegeneration
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
Complement dysregulation in the central nervous system during development and disease
Lee, John D., Coulthard, Liam G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). Complement dysregulation in the central nervous system during development and disease. Seminars in Immunology, 45 101340, 101340. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.101340
Revisiting the role of the innate immune complement system in ALS
Parker, Sandra E., Hanton, Angela M., Stefanou, Stephen N., Noakes, Peter G., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2019). Revisiting the role of the innate immune complement system in ALS. Neurobiology of Disease, 127, 223-232. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.03.003
Lee, John D., Levin, Samantha C., Willis, Emily F., Li, Rui, Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2018). Complement components are upregulated and correlate with disease progression in the TDP-43 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 15 (1) 171, 171. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1217-2
Lee, John D., Kumar, Vinod, Fung, Jenny N. T., Ruitenberg, Marc J., Noakes, Peter G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Pharmacological inhibition of complement C5a-C5a1 receptor signalling ameliorates disease pathology in the hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. British Journal of Pharmacology, 173 (8), 689-699. doi: 10.1111/bph.13730
Lee, John D., Kamaruzaman, Nur A., Fung, Jenny N. T., Taylor, Stephen M., Turner, Bradley J., Atkin, Julie D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2013). Dysregulation of the complement cascade in the hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 10 (1) 119, 119. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-10-119
Neuroinflammation in Huntington’s
Lee, John D., Lo, Martin W., Fung, Jenny N. T. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). Neuroinflammation in Huntington’s. Neurodegenerative Diseases Biomarkers. (pp. 215-233) edited by Philip V. Peplow, Bridget Martinez and Thomas A. Gennarelli. New York, NY, United States: Springer US. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1712-0_9
Lee, John D., Lee, Jia Y., Taylor, Stephen M., Noakes, Peter G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2012). Innate immunity in ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (pp. 393-412) edited by Martin H. Maurer. Croatia: InTech - Open Access Publisher. doi: 10.5772/30341
Complement peptide receptors in GtoPdb v.2023.1
Cianciulli, Antonia, Coulthard, Liam, Hawksworth, Owen, Lee, John D., Li, Xaria X., Mitolo, Vincenzo, Monk, Peter, Panaro, Maria A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). Complement peptide receptors in GtoPdb v.2023.1. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE, 2023 (1). doi: 10.2218/gtopdb/f5/2023.1
TLQP-21 is a low potency partial C3aR activator on human primary macrophages
Li, Xaria X., Lee, John D., Lee, Han S., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). TLQP-21 is a low potency partial C3aR activator on human primary macrophages. Frontiers in Immunology, 14 1086673, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1086673
SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Amarilla, Alberto A., Modhiran, Naphak, Parker, Sandra, Li, Xaria X., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Aguado, Julio, Zamora, Adriana Pliego, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Nias Y. G., Sng, Julian D. J., Saima, Fatema Tuj, Fung, Jenny N., Lee, John D., Paramitha, Devina, Parry, Rhys, Avumegah, Michael S., Isaacs, Ariel, Lo, Martin W., Miranda-Chacon, Zaray, Bradshaw, Daniella, Salinas-Rebolledo, Constanza, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Munro, Trent P., Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Young, Paul R., Stacey, Katryn J. ... Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein. Molecular Psychiatry, 28 (7), 2878-2893. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01831-0
Potential mechanisms to modify impaired glucose metabolism in neurodegenerative disorders
McDonald, Tanya S., Lerskiatiphanich, Titaya, Woodruff, Trent M., McCombe, Pamela A. and Lee, John D. (2022). Potential mechanisms to modify impaired glucose metabolism in neurodegenerative disorders. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 43 (1), 26-43. doi: 10.1177/0271678x221135061
Glucose metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: It is bitter-sweet
Lerskiatiphanich, Titaya, Marallag, Jianina and Lee, John D. (2022). Glucose metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: It is bitter-sweet. Neural Regeneration Research, 17 (9), 1975-1977. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.335154
SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate
Lo, Martin W., Amarilla, Alberto A., Lee, John D., Albornoz, Eduardo A., Modhiran, Naphak, Clark, Richard J., Ferro, Vito, Chhabra, Mohit, Khromykh, Alexander A., Watterson, Daniel and Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 triggers complement activation through interactions with heparan sulfate. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 11 (8) e1413, e1413. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1413
In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy
Cui, Cedric S., Kumar, Vinod, Gorman, Declan M., Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). In vivo pharmacodynamic method to assess complement C5a receptor antagonist efficacy. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 5 (1) acsptsci.1c00227, 41-51. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00227
Unexpected off-target activities for recombinant C5a in human macrophages
Li, Xaria X., Gorman, Declan M., Lee, John D., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). Unexpected off-target activities for recombinant C5a in human macrophages. Journal of Immunology, 208 (1), 133-142. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100444
Gorman, Declan M., Li, Xaria X., Payne, Colton D., Cui, Cedric S., Lee, John D., Rosengren, K. Johan, Woodruff, Trent M. and Clark, Richard J. (2021). Development of synthetic human and mouse C5a: application to binding and functional assays in vitro and in vivo. ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, 4 (6) acsptsci.1c00199, 1808-1817. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00199
Development of Potent and Selective Agonists for Complement C5a Receptor 1 with In Vivo Activity
Gorman, Declan M., Li, Xaria X., Lee, John D., Fung, Jenny N., Cui, Cedric S., Lee, Han Siean, Rolfe, Barbara E., Woodruff, Trent M. and Clark, Richard J. (2021). Development of Potent and Selective Agonists for Complement C5a Receptor 1 with In Vivo Activity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64 (22) acs.jmedchem.1c01174, 16598-16608. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01174
Intrinsic bias at non-canonical, β-arrestin-coupled seven transmembrane receptors
Pandey, Shubhi, Kumari, Punita, Baidya, Mithu, Kise, Ryoji, Cao, Yubo, Dwivedi-Agnihotri, Hemlata, Banerjee, Ramanuj, Li, Xaria X., Cui, Cedric S., Lee, John D., Kawakami, Kouki, Maharana, Jagannath, Ranjan, Ashutosh, Chaturvedi, Madhu, Jhingan, Gagan Deep, Laporte, Stéphane A., Woodruff, Trent M., Inoue, Asuka and Shukla, Arun K. (2021). Intrinsic bias at non-canonical, β-arrestin-coupled seven transmembrane receptors. Molecular Cell, 81 (22), 4605-4621.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.09.007
The emerging role of complement in neuromuscular disorders
Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). The emerging role of complement in neuromuscular disorders. Seminars in Immunopathology, 43 (6), 817-828. doi: 10.1007/s00281-021-00895-4
The concise guide to pharmacology 2021/22: G protein‐coupled receptors
Alexander, Stephen PH, Christopoulos, Arthur, Davenport, Anthony P, Kelly, Eamonn, Mathie, Alistair, Peters, John A, Veale, Emma L, Armstrong, Jane F, Faccenda, Elena, Harding, Simon D, Pawson, Adam J, Southan, Christopher, Davies, Jamie A, Abbracchio, Maria Pia, Alexander, Wayne, Al‐hosaini, Khaled, Bäck, Magnus, Barnes, Nicholas M., Bathgate, Ross, Beaulieu, Jean‐Martin, Bernstein, Kenneth E., Bettler, Bernhard, Birdsall, Nigel J.M., Blaho, Victoria, Boulay, Francois, Bousquet, Corinne, Bräuner‐Osborne, Hans, Burnstock, Geoffrey, Caló, Girolamo ... Ye, Richard D. (2021). The concise guide to pharmacology 2021/22: G protein‐coupled receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 178 (S1), S27-S156. doi: 10.1111/bph.15538
Complement peptide receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.3
Cianciulli, Antonia, Coulthard, Liam, Hawksworth, Owen, Lee, John D., Li, Xaria X., Mitolo, Vincenzo, Monk, Peter, Panaro, Maria A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). Complement peptide receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.3. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE, 2021 (3). doi: 10.2218/gtopdb/f5/2021.3
McDonald, Tanya S., Kumar, Vinod, Fung, Jenny N., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2021). Glucose clearance and uptake is increased in the SOD1 G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through an insulin‐independent mechanism. The FASEB Journal, 35 (7) e21707, e21707. doi: 10.1096/fj.202002450r
Complement: a global immunometabolic regulator in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lo, Martin W. and Lee, John D. (2021). Complement: a global immunometabolic regulator in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neural Regeneration Research, 16 (6), 1210-1211. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.300441
The “C3aR Antagonist” SB290157 is a partial C5aR2 agonist
Li, Xaria X., Kumar, Vinod, Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2021). The “C3aR Antagonist” SB290157 is a partial C5aR2 agonist. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11 591398, 591398. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.591398
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
Lee, John D., Heshmat, Saman, Heggie, Susan, Thorpe, Kathryn A., McCombe, Pamela A. and Henderson, Robert D. (2021). Clinical and electrophysiological examination of pinch strength in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Muscle and Nerve, 63 (1) mus.27111, 108-113. doi: 10.1002/mus.27111
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
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
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
Wu, Mike C. L., Lee, John D., Ruitenberg, Marc J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Absence of the C5a receptor C5aR2 worsens ischemic tissue injury by increasing C5aR1-mediated neutrophil infiltration. The Journal of Immunology, 205 (10), 1-6. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000778
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
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
Li, Xaria X., Lee, John D., Massey, Nicholas L., Guan, Carolyn, Robertson, Avril A. B., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2020). Pharmacological characterisation of small molecule C5aR1 inhibitors in human cells reveals biased activities for signalling and function. Biochemical Pharmacology, 180 114156, 114156. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114156
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
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
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
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
The Concise Guide to Pharmacology 2019/20: G protein‐coupled receptors
Alexander, Stephen P. H., Christopoulos, Arthur, Davenport, Anthony P., Kelly, Eamonn, Mathie, Alistair, Peters, John A., Veale, Emma L., Armstrong, Jane F., Faccenda, Elena, Harding, Simon D., Pawson, Adam J., Sharman, Joanna L., Southan, Christopher, Davies, Jamie A., Abbracchio, Maria P., Alexander, Wayne, Al-hosaini, Khaled, Bäck, Magnus, Beaulieu, Jean‐Martin, Bernstein, Kenneth E., Bettler, Bernhard, Birdsall, Nigel J.M., Blaho, Victoria, Bousquet, Corinne, Bräuner-Osborne, Hans, Burnstock, Geoffrey, Caló, Girolamo, Castaño, Justo P., Catt, Kevin J. ... Yao, Chengcan (2019). The Concise Guide to Pharmacology 2019/20: G protein‐coupled receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 176 (S1), S21-S141. doi: 10.1111/bph.14748
Complement dysregulation in the central nervous system during development and disease
Lee, John D., Coulthard, Liam G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). Complement dysregulation in the central nervous system during development and disease. Seminars in Immunology, 45 101340, 101340. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.101340
Complement peptide receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database
Cianciulli, Antonia, Coulthard, Liam, Hawksworth, Owen, Lee, John D., Mitolo, Vincenzo, Monk, Peter, Panaro, Maria A. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). Complement peptide receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE, 2019 (4). doi: 10.2218/gtopdb/f5/2019.4
C5a receptors C5aR1 and C5aR2 mediate opposing pathologies in a mouse model of melanoma
Nabizadeh, Jamileh A., Manthey, Helga D., Panagides, Nadya, Steyn, Frederik J., Lee, John D., Li, Xaria X., Akhir, Fazrena N. M., Chen, Weiyu, Boyle, Glen M., Taylor, Stephen M., Woodruff, Trent M. and Rolfe, Barbara E. (2019). C5a receptors C5aR1 and C5aR2 mediate opposing pathologies in a mouse model of melanoma. FASEB Journal, 33 (10), fj201800980RR-11071. doi: 10.1096/fj.201800980rr
Revisiting the role of the innate immune complement system in ALS
Parker, Sandra E., Hanton, Angela M., Stefanou, Stephen N., Noakes, Peter G., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2019). Revisiting the role of the innate immune complement system in ALS. Neurobiology of Disease, 127, 223-232. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.03.003
The complement receptor C5aR2: a powerful modulator of innate and adaptive immunity
Li, Xaria X., Lee, John D., Kemper, Claudia and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). The complement receptor C5aR2: a powerful modulator of innate and adaptive immunity. Journal of Immunology, 202 (12), 3339-3348. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900371
Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?
McCombe, Pamela A., Henderson, Robert D., Lee, Aven, Lee, John D., Woodruff, Trent M., Restuadi, Restuadi, McRae, Allan, Wray, Naomi R., Ngo, Shyuan and Steyn, Frederik J. (2019). Gut microbiota in ALS: possible role in pathogenesis?. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 19 (9), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/14737175.2019.1623026
Lee, John D., Liu, Ning, Levin, Samantha C., Ottosson, Lars, Andersson, Ulf, Harris, Helena E. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2019). Therapeutic blockade of HMGB1 reduces early motor deficits, but not survival in the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 16 (1) 45, 45. doi: 10.1186/s12974-019-1435-2
Coulthard, Liam G., Hawksworth, Owen A., Conroy, Jacinta, Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2018). Complement C3a receptor modulates embryonic neural progenitor cell proliferation and cognitive performance. Molecular Immunology, 101, 176-181. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.06.271
Lee, John D., Levin, Samantha C., Willis, Emily F., Li, Rui, Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2018). Complement components are upregulated and correlate with disease progression in the TDP-43 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 15 (1) 171, 171. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1217-2
Kumar, Vinod, Lee, John D., Clark, Richard J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2018). Development and validation of a LC-MS/MS assay for pharmacokinetic studies of complement C5a receptor antagonists PMX53 and PMX205 in mice. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 8101, 8101. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26387-4
Chand, Kirat K., Lee, Kah Meng, Lee, John D., Qiu, Hao, Willis, Emily F., Lavidis, Nickolas A., Hilliard, Massimo A. and Noakes, Peter G. (2018). Defects in synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction precedes motor deficits in a TDP-43Q331K transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 32 (5), fj201700835R-2689. doi: 10.1096/fj.201700835R
Wang, Haitao A., Lee, John D., Lee, Kah Meng, Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2017). Complement C5a-C5aR1 signalling drives skeletal muscle macrophage recruitment in the hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Skeletal Muscle, 7 (1) 10, 10. doi: 10.1186/s13395-017-0128-8
Coulthard, Liam G., Hawksworth, Owen A., Li, Rui, Balachandran, Anushree, Lee, John D., Sepehrband, Farshid, Kurniawan, Nyoman, Jeanes, Angela, Simmons, David G., Wolvetang, Ernst and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Complement C5aR1 signaling promotes polarization and proliferation of embryonic neural progenitor cells through PKCζ. Journal of Neuroscience, 37 (22), 5395-5407. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0525-17.2017
Lee, John D., Kumar, Vinod, Fung, Jenny N. T., Ruitenberg, Marc J., Noakes, Peter G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Pharmacological inhibition of complement C5a-C5a1 receptor signalling ameliorates disease pathology in the hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. British Journal of Pharmacology, 173 (8), 689-699. doi: 10.1111/bph.13730
Spiers, Jereme G., Chen, Hsiao-Jou Cortina, Steyn, Frederik J., Lavidis, Nickolas A., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2017). Non-invasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system. Stress, 20 (1), 59-67. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2016.1276898
Fogarty, Matthew J., Klenowski, Paul M., Lee, John D., Drieberg-Thompson, Joy R., Bartlett, Selena E., Ngo, Shyuan T., Hilliard, Massimo A., Bellingham, Mark C. and Noakes, Peter G. (2016). Cortical synaptic and dendritic spine abnormalities in a presymptomatic TDP-43 model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 37968, 37968. doi: 10.1038/srep37968
Brennan, Faith H., Lee, John D., Ruitenberg, Marc J. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). Therapeutic targeting of complement to modify disease course and improve outcomes in neurological conditions. Seminars in Immunology, 28 (3), 292-308. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2016.03.015
Lee, Jia Y., Lee, John D., Phipps, Simon, Noakes, Peter G. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2015). Absence of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) extends survival in the hSOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 12 (1) 90, 90. doi: 10.1186/s12974-015-0310-z
Role for terminal complement activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease progression
Woodruff, Trent M., Lee, John D. and Noakes, Peter G. (2014). Role for terminal complement activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease progression. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111 (1), E3-E4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1321248111
Lee, John D., Kamaruzaman, Nur A., Fung, Jenny N. T., Taylor, Stephen M., Turner, Bradley J., Atkin, Julie D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Noakes, Peter G. (2013). Dysregulation of the complement cascade in the hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 10 (1) 119, 119. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-10-119
Fung, Jenny N. T., Jeffery, Penny L., Lee, John D., Seim, Inge, Roche, Deborah, Obermair, Andreas, Chopin, Lisa K. and Chen, Chen (2013). Silencing of ghrelin receptor expression inhibits endometrial cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 305 (2), E305-E313. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00156.2013
Steyn, F. J., Ngo, S. T, Lee, J. D., Leong, J. W., Buckley, A. J., Veldhuis, J. D., McCombe, P. A., Chen, C. and Bellingham, M. C. (2012). Impairments to the GH-IGF-I axis in hSOD1(G93A) mice give insight into possible mechanisms of GH dysregulation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Endocrinology, 153 (8), 3735-3746. doi: 10.1210/en.2011-2171
Crane, James W., Baiquni, Gilang P., Sullivan, Robert K. P., Lee, John D, Sah, Pankaj, Taylor, Stephen M, Noakes, Peter G. and Woodruff, Trent (2009). The C5a anaphylatoxin receptor CD88 is expressed in presynaptic terminals of hippocampal mossy fibres. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 6 (34) 34, 34.1-34.10. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-6-34
Complement C5a receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2, mediate opposing pathologies in a mouse model of melanoma
Nabizadeh, J., Manthey, H., Panagides, N., Steyn, F., Lee, J., Li, X., Woodruff, T. and Rolfe, B. (2019). Complement C5a receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2, mediate opposing pathologies in a mouse model of melanoma. 17th International Congress of Immunology (IUIS), Beijing, China, 19-23 October 2019. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley.
Deciphering key roles for complement peptide receptors in brain development
Woodruff, T., Hawksworth, O., Lee, J. and Coulthard, L. (2019). Deciphering key roles for complement peptide receptors in brain development. Joint Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry and American Society for Neurochemistry (ISN-ASN), Montreal, Canada, 4-8 August 2019. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Motor neuron disease proteins activate complement and generate C5a
Deora, Vandana, Mantovani, Susanna, Yerbury, Justin, Clark, Richard, Atkin, Julie, Lee, John, Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2017). Motor neuron disease proteins activate complement and generate C5a. 16th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease (EMCHD), Copenhagen, Denmark, 8-12 September 2017. Kidlington, Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2017.06.144
Li, Rui, Lee, John D., Levin, Samantha, Gordon, Richard and Woodruff, Trent M. (2016). A pathogenic role for the C5a receptor, C5aR2, in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. The XXVI International Complement Workshop (ICW), Kanazawa, Japan, 4-8 September 2016. Muenchen, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2016.06.186
Li, R., Levin, S., Lee, J., Gordon, R. and Woodruff, T. (2016). The complement C5a receptor, C5aR2 contributes to motor deficits in mouse models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley - VCH. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200
Kumar, Vinod, Lee, John, Noakes, Peter and Woodruff, Trent (2015). Blood brain barrier impairment alters the pharmacokinetic properties of the complement C5aR1 antagonist PMX205 in mouse models of neurodegeneration. 8th International Conference on Complement Therapeutics, Chania, Crete, Greece, 1-6 January 2015.
Dysregulation of the complement system in neurodegenerative disease
Woodruff, T. M., Lee, J. D., Taylor, S. M. and Noakes, P. G. (2010). Dysregulation of the complement system in neurodegenerative disease. XXIII International Complement Workshop, New York, NY, U.S.A., 1-5 August 2010. Oxford, U.K.: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2010.05.215
The role of complement system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lee, John (2014). The role of complement system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PhD Thesis, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2015.156
C9orf72 dipeptide-mediated activation of microglia as a therapeutic target for MND
(2023–2024) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
Therapeutic potential of targeting one of the core players of inflammation (Inflammasome) in MND
(2023–2024) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
Profiling monocytes in MND to assess disease progression and heterogeneity
(2022–2024) Cure for MND Foundation - Impact Grants
(2022–2024) United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Program
The role of glucagon signalling in the progression of MND
(2022–2023) MNDRIA Innovator Grants
Targeting complement C5a receptor 2 as a disease-modifying treatment for motor neuron disease
(2021–2023) NHMRC Development Grant
Advancing a clinical drug targeting the complement system to treat COVID-19
(2021–2022) Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships
(2020–2024) Cure for MND Foundation - Drug Development Grants
(2020–2021) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Investigating the beneficial effects of complement C3aR on immune cell glucose metabolism in MND
(2019–2020) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Manipulation of free fatty acid receptors to tame the immune response in MND
(2019–2020) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Discovering new therapies for Motor Neuron Disease
(2018–2023) The University of Queensland in America, Inc
(2018–2019) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
(2018–2019) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
Therapeutic inhibition of HMGB1 to slow disease progression in MND
(2017–2018) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
The role of C3aR signalling in slowing down the disease progression of motor neuron disease
(2016–2019) Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
The Role of Neutrophils in Motor Neuron Disease
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Unravelling the Role of Astrocytes in Motor Neuron Disease to discover new therapeutic targets
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
The potential role of CXCR2 activation in motor neuron disease
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
The role of terminal complement pathway in neurodevelopment
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Complement Modulation of Peripheral Immunity in Motor Neurone Disease and Huntington's Disease
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Therapeutic blockade of neuroinflammation for the treatment of Huntington's disease
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Preclinical evaluation of complement receptor targeted drugs for neurological disease
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2022) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Investigating the Immunopharmacology of the Complement C5a Receptors, C5aR1 and C5aR2
(2021) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
The role of GPR43 in neuroinflammation and the hSOD1G93A mouse model of motor neuron disease
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
The role of innate immune and inflammatory pathways in neurodegenerative diseases
The link between innate immune system and energy metabolism and its contribution to neurodegeneration