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Diabetes/Transplantation Immunobiology Group

Leader: Dr Charmaine Simeonovic

Research program: Pancreatic islet xenotransplantation for Type 1 diabetes

Charmaine Simeonovic joined the John Curtin School of Medical Research in 1979 as a PhD scholar to study transplantation immunology in Dr Kevin Lafferty's Laboratory.  Dr Simeonovic's independent research career in pancreatic islet transplantation began in 1983, assisted by external grants from The Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundations, The Lions NSW/ACT Save Sight Foundaton and Public Health Care Foundation, The Kellion Diabetes Foundation Australia, The Sunshine Foundation (VIC, Australia), Government Assistance to Medical Research Fund (Australia) and the  Hoechst Diabetes Research Advisory Board. Over the past 16 years, major support ($2.5 million) for Dr Simeonovic's research at JCSMR has been provided by the Canberra Hospital (formerly Woden Valley Hospital) Private Practice Fund, The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International (New York), The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Australia and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NH&MRC).

Contacts:
T: +61 2 6125 4709
F: +61 2 6125 0413
E: Charmaine.Simeonovic@anu.edu.au

Mail Address:
The John Curtin School of Medical Research
Building 54 Garran Road
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia

Academic position:
Fellow (Level C)

Dr Simeonovic's main research interests include:

1. The immunological processes which lead to the rejection of foreign (allogeneic and xenogeneic) tissue transplants and the induction of transplant tolerance.
2. The treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes by transplantation of pancreatic islet tissue.
3. Regulation of the recurrence of diabetes-producing autoimmune disease in transplanted islet tissue.

Training/supervision:

Involved in training/supervision of PhD scholars, Honours students, undergraduate students and vacation scholars since 1993. Information about PhD scholarship applications (JCSMR; APA) can be obtained via e-mail: medical.gradprog@anu.edu.au

Administration:

Divisional Representative on Faculty Board, member of various Faculty Board Committes, JCSMR
Convenor, Diabetes and Autoimmunity Program, JCSMR (see further information below)

Membership of learned societies:

The Australasian Society for Immunology Inc.
The Transplantation Society of Australia and New  Zealand.
The Transplantation Society (International).
The International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association.
The Immunology of Diabetes Society (International).
The International Xenotransplantation Association.
The Cell Transplantation Society

Peer Review:

Review regularly for the international journals: Transplantation, Xenotransplantation, Cell Transplantation
Review grant applications for funding bodies: e.g. NH&MRC, Diabetes Australia Research Trust
Editorial Board Membership: Cell Transplantation
Examiner of  PhD, MSc and Honours theses

International/National profile:

20 presentations of lab's research/ lecture at international congresses
30 presentations/lectures of lab's research at national conferences
10 invited session chairs at national / international conferences
5 lectures to community groups
Organiser /co-organiser of 3 international/national congresses / conferences