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cover of episode The Power Of T-Cell Immunology: Early Diagnosis, Immunotherapy, & The Future Of Global Health

The Power Of T-Cell Immunology: Early Diagnosis, Immunotherapy, & The Future Of Global Health

2025/2/28
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Finding Genius Podcast

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Nigel McCracken
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Nigel McCracken: 我在药物研发领域工作了30年,主要负责转化医学团队,将基础科学研究成果转化为临床应用。我意识到早期诊断的重要性,尤其是在肿瘤学和传染病领域。因此,我开始专注于开发早期检测诊断工具,特别是针对免疫系统,特别是适应性免疫系统及其功能障碍。我们致力于开发检测方法,以帮助监测免疫系统并帮助人们。我们知道慢性炎症是细菌或病毒感染后48小时左右出现的症状,它有助于清除感染,但持续的慢性炎症会导致免疫系统功能障碍。 我们正在开发针对T细胞的诊断工具,以识别适应性免疫系统中的潜在功能障碍,并将其与特定疾病联系起来。T细胞是细胞毒性细胞,其作用是杀死病毒或细菌感染。当免疫系统无法有效清除病毒或感染时,就会出现免疫系统功能障碍,导致长期问题。免疫系统由先天免疫系统和适应性免疫系统组成。先天免疫系统包括肥大细胞、中性粒细胞等,负责启动免疫反应;适应性免疫系统包括B细胞(产生抗体和抗原)和T细胞(杀死病毒)。 在感染中,T细胞通过释放细胞因子和趋化因子来创造对病毒有毒的环境,从而清除病毒或细菌感染。然而,有时免疫系统会过度反应,导致细胞因子风暴,损害人体器官。病毒感染后会产生记忆T细胞,使机体对再次感染的反应更快。疫苗通过产生抗体和记忆T细胞来实现对病毒的保护性免疫。 我们开发的诊断工具并非药物,而是用于检测免疫系统功能障碍的检测方法。持续的病毒刺激会导致T细胞持续激活,这会导致慢性炎症、氧化应激和线粒体功能障碍等问题,并表现为慢性疲劳、脑雾等症状。免疫系统功能障碍也与肿瘤微环境有关,肿瘤微环境会抑制免疫系统,导致T细胞耗竭。免疫疗法通过靶向特定受体来逆转T细胞耗竭。 我们还关注潜伏病毒,这些病毒在免疫力下降时会重新激活。我们开发的诊断工具可以检测对潜伏病毒的免疫反应,以评估免疫系统的功能。我们正在研究长新冠、慢性疲劳综合征、莱姆病后综合征等疾病,这些疾病的症状相似,都与免疫系统功能障碍有关。长新冠并非由SARS-CoV-2的潜伏形式引起,而是持续的T细胞激活导致的。 目前长新冠的治疗主要集中在饮食、生活方式和运动方面,尚无针对性的药物。我们的目标是早期识别免疫系统功能障碍,以便及早干预。我们的检测方法可以帮助药物公司筛选合适的患者参与临床试验。我们相信,通过早期诊断和干预,可以避免长新冠等疾病发展到慢性疲劳综合征的程度。慢性疾病的增加可能是由于病毒暴露增加和免疫系统功能下降造成的。有效的疫苗不仅要产生抗体反应,还要产生记忆T细胞反应,以确保机体对病毒的有效清除。 Richard Jacobs: (访谈者,问题引导)

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter introduces Dr. Nigel McCracken and Virax Biolabs' innovative work in T-cell immunology diagnostics. It emphasizes the critical role of early diagnosis in immune system dysfunction and discusses the importance of T-cell function in infection clearance.
  • Dr. McCracken's background in pharmacology and drug development.
  • Virax Biolabs' focus on T-cell diagnostics for early detection of immune dysfunction.
  • The importance of early diagnosis in managing immune system problems.

Shownotes Transcript

In today’s episode, we dive into the wonders of T-cell immunology technology and how it impacts early treatment interventions with long-time drug developer Dr. Nigel McCracken. As the Chief Operating Officer of Virax Biolabs, Dr. McCracken has more than 25 years of research and development experience in this diverse field – including oncology and infectious disease…

Virax Biolabs is committed to revolutionizing global health by accelerating the development of more effective vaccines. How do they achieve this? By harnessing cutting-edge diagnostics to power a groundbreaking T-cell immunology platform, enabling early detection of post-viral syndromes and conditions linked to chronic inflammation and T-cell exhaustion.

Before joining Virax, Dr. McCracken served as Chief Scientific Officer at BerGenBio ASA, where he led the development of companion diagnostics and assay strategies. Prior to that, he was COO at NuCana PLC, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving cancer treatment outcomes. In this role, he oversaw business operations, research and development, and the execution of corporate strategy.

Tune in now to learn about:

The importance of early diagnosis when it comes to immune system dysfunction. How the complementary system interacts with the immune system.  The typical role that T-cells play in infections.  Why chronic health problems are on the rise, and what this could mean for the future of healthcare.

You can follow along with Dr. McCracken’s work at Virax Biolabs here)!

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/30PvU9C)

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