Biophysics of Infection and Immunity: From Molecules to Cells to Tissues

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An integrated understanding of how biophysical processes regulate immune function is an
important scientific goal. Following significant University of York investment in the fields of
immunology and infection and in biophysical technologies, we are now seeking to align these
fields to generate critical mass in the exciting and emerging area of “biophysical
immunology”. Building on three established centres at the University of York, we will exploit
our excellence in interdisciplinary and interdepartmental research, bringing together
investigators from Physics, Biology, Electronics and the Medical School. Our aim is to unleash
the “untapped potential” of the physical sciences for addressing key biomedical challenges
and to find solutions that can translate to healthcare.
We will mobilise the expertise from these diverse disciplines to address key questions related
to host-pathogen interactions and tissue level immunity. Our defining approach will be
directed towards the eventual linkage of quantitative biophysical measurements to organ
level physiology connecting different time (msec to min) and length (nm to cm) scales
complemented by the application of predictive modelling and simulation. Here we propose to
fund four exemplar Phase I projects (12mths) focused on developing tools and technologies
to quantify molecular interactions at the host-pathogen interface and chemotactic gradients
in tissue level immunity. These will be followed by four Phase II projects (6mths), building on
Phase I outcomes, that will be a selected in a transparent process from a pool of potential
projects from across the University.
The key aim of this application, therefore, is to embed “biophysical immunology” as a key
part of the pipeline that links basic discovery science to translational impact through the
identification of novel detection and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of human
infection and inflammatory diseases.