A Phase 1 Clinical Trial of a Human Chimeric Anti-Activated DC Antibody to Prevent AGVHD in high risk allo HSCT. [ 2007 - 2015 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Derek Hart (Principal investigator) ,  Dr David Munster ,  Prof Kenneth Bradstock

Brief description Bone Marrow transplants provide life saving therapy for leukaemias, lymphomas and other life threatening blood disorders. One of the major life threatening complications is acute graft versus host disease (AGVHD) in which the doner immune system damages the patient's skin, liver and gut, amongst other tissues. Dendritic cells initiate and direct immune responses. We have shown that dendritic cells are central to the initiation of AGVHD and have shown that a marker called CMRF-44 is expressed on activated dendritic cells before AGVHD emerges. We have developed potential new therapeutic antibodies that target activated dendritic cells and shown that they are effective in preclinical studies. This project will further validate these antibodies, then test their safety and their ability to prevent AGVHD in patients. The trial will also test whether they have the expected additional beneficial effect of preserving protective anti-viral and anti leukaemic immune responses.

Funding Amount $AUD 670,736.01

Funding Scheme Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant