My research interests center around the application of multimodal single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) techniques to understand the cellular states and molecular pathways involved in T cells that recognise and kill the insulin-producing beta cells. These insights will aid to identify pathways that can be modulated to preserve the beta cell functions for individuals with type 1 diabetes.
I joined the Islet Biology Laboratory in 2023. Prior to this I gained expertise on multiplex immunoassays and multivariate statistics during my PhD candidature on sero-epidemiology for malaria at the Walter and Eliza Hall of Institute of Medical Reserach. My postdoctoral research at the Doherty Institute was to re-purpose blocking antibodies to inhibitory immune checkpoints to reinvigorate exhausted T cells from people living with HIV through techniques such as multi-colour flow cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing.
Selected publications
Chris Y. Chiu; Maya D. Schou; James H. McMahon; Steven G. Deeks; Rémi Fromentin; Nicolas Chomont; Michelle N. Wykes; Thomas A. Rasmussen; Sharon R. Lewin. Frontier in Immunology; Volume 14 – 2023; Soluble immune checkpoints as correlates for HIV persistence and T cell function in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1123342
Chris Y. Chiu, Judy J. Chang, Ashanti I. Dantanarayana, Ajantha Solomon, Vanessa A. Evans, Rachel Pascoe, Celine Gubser, Lydie Trautman, Remi Fromentin, Nicolas Chomont, James H. McMahon, Paul U. Cameron, Thomas A. Rasmussen, and Sharon R. Lewin. Journal of Immunology; Volume 288(1) – 2022; https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2100367
Chris Y. Chiu; Michael T. White; Julie Healer; Jenny K. Thompson; Peter M. Siba; Ivo Mueller; Alan F. Cowman; Diana S. Hansen. Journal of Infectious Diseases; Volume 214(1) – 2016. Different Regions ofPlasmodium falciparumErythrocyte-Binding Antigen 175 Induce Antibody Responses to Infection of Varied Efficacy. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiw119
Chris Y. H. Chiu; Anthony N. Hodder; Clara S. Lin; Danika L. Hill; Connie S. N. Li Wai Suen; Louis Schofield; Peter M. Siba; Ivo Mueller; Alan F. Cowman; Diana S. Hansen. Journal of Infectious Diseases; Volume 212(3) – 2015. Antibodies to the Plasmodium falciparum Proteins MSPDBL1 and MSPDBL2 Opsonize Merozoites, Inhibit Parasite Growth, and Predict Protection From Clinical Malaria. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiv057
Chris Y. H. Chiu, Julie Healer, Jennifer K.Thompson, Lin Chen, Aiki Kaul, Laxman Savergave, Arjun Raghuwanshi, Connie S. N. Li Wai Suen, Peter M. Siba, Louis Schofield, Ivo Mueller, Alan F. Cowman and Diana S. Hansen. Frontiers in Microbiology; Volume 5 – 2014. Association of antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte binding protein homolog 5 with protection from clinical malaria. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00314
Islet Biology
We study the interaction between the immune system and insulin-producing cells in the pancreas to develop immune-based prevention and cure strategies for type 1 diabetes.
Lab head: Professor Helen Thomas