Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
Trinity College Dublin (TCD) is Ireland's No.1 University (QS World University Ranking). TCD is ranked 42nd in the World and 9th in Europe in terms of Research Performance (Leiden Ranking of World Universities, 2013) and in the top 1% of research institutions in the world in Medicine and Biological Sciences (Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators, 2013). In the area of biomedical research, TCD has placed a strategic emphasis on health and translational activities and has prioritized the areas of Immunology and Infection, as well as Cancer, Neuroscience and Genetics. The University has a critical mass of researchers with international standing in the area of Immunology and Infection and has committed support for internal development through internal and external funding. The Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institutes (TBSI) provides state-of-art facilities that houses researchers from the Schools of Biochemistry & Immunology, Medicine, Chemistry, Pharmacy and Biomechanical Engineering with 3 thematic research areas, Immunology, Cancer Drug Discovery and Medical Devices. TBSI is equipped to the highest international standards with particular strengths in Flow Cytometry and animal models.
TCD will provide expertise in immunology, especially T cell responses post infection or vaccination and in pre-clinical models. The aerosol infection model of B. pertussis infection has been refined and utilized at TCD for studies on mechanisms of natural and vaccine-induced immunity. It will be used in the PERISCOPE project to evaluate biomarkers of protective immunity in identified humans and for studies on the role of memory T cells in vaccine-induced protection. The TCD will offer its expertise on the assessment of innate immune responses and antigen-specific T cell responses.
Kingston Mills is Professor of Experimental Immunology and Leader of the Immunology, Infection and Inflammation Research Theme at TCD. His expertise is in the area of cellular immunology, in particular the role of CD4 T cells in infection and autoimmunity. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of B. pertussis and has pioneered the use of the murine aerosol challenge model to understand the mechanisms of protective immunity to B. pertussis.