Research to redress the health impact of disadvantage

Professor Allan Crips

Driven by a longstanding commitment to values such as social justice, much of Griffith University’s research agenda focuses on the challenges of chronic diseases and equity in health outcomes.

Pro Vice Chancellor (Health) Professor Allan Cripps is an immunologist with a passion for reducing the burden of pneumococcal and other infectious diseases in developing countries and disadvantaged Indigenous communities.

“Best estimates are that 2.5 million children under the age of five die each year from pneumonia. Tens of millions of children are also affected by middle ear infections with many suffering hearing loss as a result and never reaching their full potential,” he said.

His particular expertise is in the area of mucosal immunology – the immune system’s response to infectious agents, allergens and environmental triggers at mucous membranes such as the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

Current research aims to improve antigen delivery systems to M-cells in the lymphoid tissue of the intestine. Ultimately it will help develop effective oral immunisation for common respiratory pathogens.

He is also working with clinicians, virologists and physiologists on a study to further define the relationships between the microbial ecology of the nasopharynx in children, their immune response and otitis media.

Areas of particular interest are the contribution of mixed bacterial and viral infections and the role of bacterial biofilm formation in the pathogenesis of disease.

“Drawing together mutual research interests across disciplines and the wider health research community, increases our capacity to find the answers to the tough questions in health,” he said.

Professor Allen Ross, Chair of Public Health at Griffith, has a particular interest in ‘neglected’ tropical diseases such as the parasitic infection schistosomiasis which causes significant disease in endemic areas throughout Africa and Asia.

“Schistosomiasis is a major public health problem in places such as China. The disease kills more children in developing countries than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined.”

He said the burden of the disease has been grossly underestimated. It adversely affects growth and cognitive function in children and as a consequence also impacts on other aspects of their life such as school performance.

Professor Allen, who has clinical as well as public health qualifications, said he was committed to tackling the deadly combination of infection, malnutrition and poverty in developing countries and other vulnerable communities.

“People are born into poverty through no fault of their own. Sustainable public health programs such as vaccination have the potential to control disease and impact on many thousands of people.”

Professor Ross is also interested in sexually transmitted infections and blood borne infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. His colleague Dr Jose Rey-Ladino has recently joined Griffith as a research fellow to develop a vaccine against Chlamydia.