Discover what’s new in our research group

 

October 2024: New review on animal and cell models for ags

Together with collaborators from the US, we have published the first comprehensive review on animal and in vitro cell models for Aicardi-Goutières syndrome in Immunological Reviews.

 

August 2024: Interleukin-6 and interferon-alpha differentially regulate microglia function

In a recent study published in Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology we have shown that IL-6 and IFN-alpha regulate microglia function in opposing ways. These findings help us to better understand microglia biology in health and disease.

 

JULY 2024: On the cover of Immunity

Our study on the role of blood vessels in Aicardi-Goutières’ Syndrome was selected as the cover image in this month’s edition of Immunity. In the cover image, the devastating neurological changes mediated through cytokine-driven microvascular disease are depicted as a leaf, full of tiny, delicate microvasculature networks reminiscent of the human brain, changing from green to autumnal brown. The image was created by Ben Gartland, Grant Foster, and Holly Philip from Ward6.

 

June 2024: Aicardi-Goutières syndrome - leukodystrophy or vasculopathy?

The Hofer lab together will collaborators from across the world has identified that in AGS neurotoxic interferon-alpha is produced primarily in the brain and mediates its toxicity primarily through the brain’s vasculature. Thus, blood vessels represent an accessible target for therapeutic intervention. This study has been published in Immunity.

 

June 2024: Annual Neuroimmunology Australia Workshop

At this year’s annual Neuroimmunology Australia workshop, three members of the lab presented their findings to the Australian scientific community.

 

April 2024: our research has been featured in the university of sydney’s news.

We are excited that our recent research on antisense oligonucleotides in Aicardi-Goutières syndrome has been features in USYD news.

 

February 2024 Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) as a potential novel treatment for Aicardi-Goutières syndrome

In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the Hofer Lab has identified ASOs as a potential novel treatment for AGS. The study was done in collaboration with Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Biogen.

 

2023 AUSTRALASIAN NEUROSCIENCE ANNUAL MEETING

This year, the Hofer lab presented their results at ANS in Brisbane.

 

2023 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR NEUROIMMUNOLOGY ANNUAL MEETING

Several members of the Hofer lab presented their results at the ISNI meeting in Quebec City, Canada

 

2023 IGNITION GRANT SUCCESS

for a collaborative project with Assistant Professor Jacque Ip from the Chinese University Hong Kong to investigate effects of diet on microglia activity

 

2022 Australasian Neuroscience Society Annual meeting

Several members of the Hofer lab were excited to present their results at ANS in Melbourne.

 

barney viengkhou awarded agsaa grant

Postdoctoral fellow Barney Viengkhou has been awarded a Rare Researcher Grant from the Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome Advocacy Association. Watch an interview with him here.

 

hofer labs moves to the cpc

The Hofer Lab has relocated to the Charles Perkins Centre. You can find our new lab space on level 6.

 
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2020 NHMRC ideas GRANT SUCCESS

The Hofer lab has been awarded $1.2 million to investigate the cellular mechanisms of cerebral interferonopathies and identify novel treatment targets.

 
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2019 ulf medical research grant

The Hofer lab has been awarded a research grant by the United Leukodystrophy Foundation to study cerebral interferonopathies.

 

 new in journal of neuroinflammation

Our paper on zika virus encephalitis has been published in J Neuroinflammation.

 

 Featured in Australasian Science

Our work was featured in the July/August issue of Australasian Science.

 

Science and Sachertorte

Several members of the Hofer lab will present their work in Vienna for Cytokines 2019.

 

Neuroimmunology Australia

Hofer lab presented their work at the annual meeting of Neuroimmunology Australia in Brisbane.

 
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Red Lab Coat Day

The Hofer Lab is helping Kiss Goodbye to Multiple Sclerosis in partnership with MS Research Australia.

 

Back to School

The Hofer Lab visited Berowra Public School as part of CSIRO’s STEM Professionals in Schools Program.