Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) Dr Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik Title: Immunological dysfunction as possible biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Dr. Sonya MarshallGradisnik is an Associate Professor in Immunology. Since obtaining her PhD (2004) she has received over $4 million dollars in competitive external grant funding. In 2010, Dr Marshall-Gradisnik was awarded the prestigious Queensland Women in Technology Research Award-Rising Star Award for her research into immunological biomarkers for ME/CFS. Dr Marshall-Gradisnik has edited two books, published 52 publications in high impact journals, eight book chapters, and published sixtyfour conference abstracts in immunology. She is a reviewer for the Australian Research Council (ARC) and was in 2011 one of the authors of the ME: International Consensus Criteria. Dr MarshallGradisnik has recently received the following awards/grants: Queensland Government ($533,000); Queensland Government CoInvestment Fund ($830,000); Mason Foundation ($831, 000) and the Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation Research Grants. Dr MarshallGradisnik leads a large research team that is not only developing early diagnosis of immunological biomarkers for ME/CFS but also focusing on gene expression studies in severe and moderate ME/CFS patients. She has received the National Award as Best Young Science Investigator at the Australian Conference for Science and Medicine for her studies into natural killer cell function and genotyping. Abstract Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik 2,3, 4 Donald R Staines,1, 2 Kevin J Ashton 3 Daniel Peterson 6, Sharni Hardcastle1,2, Mieke van Driel 2, 3,5 and Ekua, Weba Brenu 2, 3 1. Gold Coast Population Health, Queensland Health, Robina, Australia, 4229 2. Population Health and Neuroimmunology Research Unt, Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond Unversity, Robina, Australia, 4229 3. Faulty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia, 4229 4. School of Medical Sciences, Griffith Health, Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Australia, 4560 5. Scool of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 6. Siera Internal Medicine at Incline Village Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a multi-factorial disease that may involve disparities in neuroendocorine immune function. Presently, a number of neuropeptides have been associated with CFS. This may be attributed to their role in regulating immune function. Our research has investigated patients diagnosed with CFS to identify immunological/neuroimmunological and genetic differences in patients compared with nonfatigued controls where our investigations have shown dysfunction in Natural Killer cell lysis, Natural Killer Cell Phenotype, Cytotoxic T cell Cytotoxic Lysis, GZMA lytic protein decreases for NK and T Cytotoxic cell function, Neuropeptide receptor dysfunction (VPAC1R and VPAC2R), Foxp3 expression, Cytokine dysregulation (T-Helper 1 and T-Helper 2 Dysregulation) and microRNA immune regulation in CFS patients compared to nonfatigued controls. These collective studies suggest their application as potential biomarkers for early identification of ME/CFS patients for clinicians. Professor Hugh Perry Neuroinflammation in chronic disease Professor Perry and his team study Inflammation in the CNS and its contribution to Neurological Disease. The results of this research may help in the development of therapies to treat acute and chronic neurodegenerative conditions, which at present are largely untreated. Inflammation biology in the brain is a complex subject and requires expertise in many different areas. The CNS Inflammation Group has collaborations with academic laboratories across the University of Southampton, the UK, as well as with laboratories across Europe. Abstract The resident immune cells of the brain, the microglia, are observed to be morphologically activated, express a greater diversity of immunefunction related molecules and increase in number during the progression of many chronic www.investinme.org Page 100 of 108
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