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Ajith Vasanthakumar

@ajithvasanthan.bsky.social
219 followers 307 following 9 posts

Associate Professor, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne. Interested in T cells, metabolism, gene regulation and birds.

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Ajith Vasanthakumar @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Thank you @openboxscience.bsky.social for the invitation. Looking forward to presenting our work on pregnancy and Trm cells in breast cancer
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Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre @petermaccc.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
New research from Peter Mac has uncovered further evidence of how pregnancy triggers a powerful, long-lasting immune response in the breast, opening the door to potential new ways to prevent #breastcancer in people at high risk. Read more: petermac.org/about-us/new...
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Jay Singh @jayendra.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Massive congratulations to @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social, @t-hussain.bsky.social, and everyone else involved. An equally amazing and important discovery.
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Ajith Vasanthakumar @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
I’m excited to share our latest study, published today in @natimmunol.nature.com. It is long known that pregnancy reduces the risk of developing breast cancer, yet the biological mechanisms underlying this protection have remained largely unknown. Read the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Pregnancy-induced tissue-resident memory-like T cells contribute to tumor control in breast cancer - Nature Immunology
Here the authors identify an abundance of a tissue-resident memory-like T cell population in the breasts of women who have given birth. These cells can contribute to tumor control and may thereby prov...
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Rhys Allan @rhyscienceallan.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
This has been a great collaboration between @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social lab and mine @wehi-research.bsky.social led by Sara Quon and Adelynn Tang! Thanks to @elife.bsky.social editors and peer reviewers for the constructive process!
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Rhys Allan @rhyscienceallan.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Excited to share the final version of our paper with @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social @petermaccc.bsky.social on the gene we discovered, Dreg1 @elife.bsky.social Here we probe a novel knockout to identity a specific role for Dreg1 in group 2 ILC development elifesciences.org/articles/109...
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Ajith Vasanthakumar @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Pleased to collaborate with @rhyscienceallan.bsky.social @wehi-research.bsky.social on this exciting study exploring the function of the lncRNA Dreg1, published in @elife.bsky.social. We found that Dreg1 is critical for ILC2 development. @petermaccc.bsky.social elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
elifesciences.org
The long non-coding RNA Dreg1 is required for optimal ILC2 development
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Rhys Allan @rhyscienceallan.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Excited to start the new year with our collaborative paper with @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social being published @elife.bsky.social -check it out! elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
elifesciences.org
The long non-coding RNA Dreg1 is required for optimal ILC2 development
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Shom Goel @shomgoel.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
A very fast moving area: we now have more post-CDK4/6 options than clear biological principles for choosing among them. Looking forward to discussing this at #SABCS25 @sabcs.bsky.social @elmayermd.bsky.social
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Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Maternal IgG transfer and neonatal infection synergize via Fc receptor pathways to promote allergic TH2 immunity @sciimmunology.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
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Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Temporal and context-dependent requirements for the transcription factor Foxp3 expression in regulatory T cells @natimmunol.nature.com @yuripritykin.bsky.social Rudensky @princetonupress.bsky.social @mskcancercenter.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Joanna Groom @groomlab.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Thrilled to make the cover of @natimmunol.nature.com this month. A version of this warhol-inspired image has been in my head almost since we first conceived this Tfh diversity project (many, many years ago) @wehi-research.bsky.social
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Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Tcf1 and Lef1 prime prethymic progenitors for Notch responsiveness, promoting early thymic progenitor fate and lineage stability @sciimmunology.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Single-cell multiomics identifies Tcf1 and Lef1 as key initiators of early thymic progenitor fate
Tcf1 and Lef1 prime prethymic progenitors for Notch responsiveness, promoting early thymic progenitor fate and lineage stability.
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Rhys Allan @rhyscienceallan.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
I am excited to share our latest study by Sara Quon in collaboration with @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social entitled “The lncRNA Dreg1 is required for optimal ILC2 development” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
The long non-coding RNA Dreg1 is required for optimal ILC2 development
Gata3 is an essential transcription factor for the development of several distinct immune cell lineages such as T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILC). As such, the levels ...
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Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
NR4A2 & RGS16 promoters support delivery of cytokines (e.g. IL-12) directly to the tumor site, leading to enhanced antitumor efficacy and long-term survival of mice in both syngeneic and xenogeneic models @nature.com @paulbeavis4.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Mark Dawson @mafdawson.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Australia completely lacks a dedicated training program for clinician scientists. With the vision and support of VMIAL @petermaccc.bsky.social is extremely proud to announce the first clinician-scientist fellowship. If you meet the eligibility criteria PLEASE APPLY! www.nature.com/naturecareer...
nature.com
Clinician Scientist Fellowship - Parkville, Melbourne (AU) job with Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre – Parkville | 12839522
Peter Mac is launching Australia’s first clinician-scientist fellowship to advance cancer care, fostering innovation and global collaboration.
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Yu-San Kao @yusankao.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
I am so excited to share our new publication on Nature Metabolism about the metabolic reprogramming in gamma delta T cells in response to inflammation. #gdt #immunometabolism Thanks for my research team in groups of @timsparwasser.bsky.social in Germany and Princeton @lydialynch.bsky.social 🙌🏻
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Ajith Vasanthakumar @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
CCR8+ decidual regulatory T cells maintain maternal-fetal immune tolerance during early pregnancy | Science Immunology www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
CCR8+ decidual regulatory T cells maintain maternal-fetal immune tolerance during early pregnancy
Decidual CCR8+ dTreg cells, with a highly activated and immunosuppressive phenotype, are crucial for maternal-fetal immune tolerance.
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Nicole La Gruta @niclag.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Our paper is out! LCK–co-receptor association ensures T cell lineage fidelity and maximizes epitope-specific TCR diversity | Science Immunology www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
LCK–co-receptor association ensures T cell lineage fidelity and maximizes epitope-specific TCR diversity
LCK-mutant mice help define the role of LCK–co-receptor association in T cell development and immune responses.
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Harmit Singh Malik @harmitmalik.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Someone awesome in my circle shared some terrific news with me today but was hesitant to do so because of all that is going on in the science world. It may appear insensitive that you are celebrating when other colleagues are struggling but I entreat you to celebrate & share good news. 1/
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Adrian Liston @labliston.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
If any American immunologists want to write an op-ed for @immunolcellbiol.bsky.social on the impact of the new executive orders, please contact me
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Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · 31/01/2025
www.forbes.com/sites/roncar...
forbes.com
One More Time: Why Diversity Leads To Better Team Performance
Discussions on diversity in the workplace can be heated and contentious. But the data still shows more diverse teams outperform their less diverse peers. Here's how.
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Ricky Johnstone @rickyjohnstone.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Very excited about this collaborative study between @petermaccc.bsky.social @danielutzschneider.bsky.social and Kallies lab
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Ajith Vasanthakumar @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Cool new study from the lab of my friend and collaborator @danielutzschneider.bsky.social in #ScienceImmunology showing that a common ID3+ precursor gives rise to stem-like memory and Tpex cells. Congrats to everyone involved!! @rickyjohnstone.bsky.social @petermaccc.bsky.social @onjcri.org.au
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Shalin H. Naik @shalinhnaik.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
@ozsinglecell.bsky.social #OzSingleCell25 has a new website www.ozsinglecell.com See the current list of invited speakers and stay tuned for registration details. Sponsors reach out to ozsinglecells@gmail.com
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Ajith Vasanthakumar @ajithvasanthan.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Exciting new study from the Mathis group showing the features and functions of meningeal Tregs now in Science Immunology!!@https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.adu2910n
science.org
The meninges host a distinct compartment of regulatory T cells that preserves brain homeostasis
Meningeal regulatory T cells restrain local interferon-γ–producing lymphocytes, thereby safeguarding parenchymal brain homeostasis.
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Cedric Feschotte @cedricfeschotte.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Tour de force! @metorrespadilla.bsky.social & team develop Smart-seq+5′ to map TSS in single embryos with unprecedented res revealing plethora of TE-driven transcripts in 5 mammal species. Some surprisingly old & conserved. Treasure trove of new biology for yrs to come! www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
cell.com
An atlas of transcription initiation reveals regulatory principles of gene and transposable element expression in early mammalian development
Mapping transcription start sites across five mammalian species before, during, and after embryonic genome activation unveils widespread transposable element-driven transcription and co-option of evol...
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Tcellogic (Sue Kaech) @tcellogic.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Interested in how T cells are regulated in a tissue-specific manner? Karthik Varanasi’s exciting work shows Bile Acid synthesis impedes tumor-specific T cell responses during liver cancer @science.org Huge THANKS to all the amazing collaborators + @salkinstitute, SBP www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Bile acid synthesis impedes tumor-specific T cell responses during liver cancer
The metabolic landscape of cancer greatly influences antitumor immunity, yet it remains unclear how organ-specific metabolites in the tumor microenvironment influence immunosurveillance. We found that...
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Tcellogic (Sue Kaech) @tcellogic.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Here is link to Shixin's new paper: www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
science.org
Nutrient-driven histone code determines exhausted CD8+ T cell fates
ACLY-deficient CAR T cells targeting the tumor-associated antigen disialoganglioside GD2 (GD2 CAR T cells) also resisted acquiring TEX-like properties, exhibiting reduced CD39 expression when co-cultu...
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
The fate of T cells, such as seen in exhausted T cells, is tied to nutrients. This introduces the potential of therapies directed at keeping T cell identity and function intact. (And the infamous Krebs cycle makes a comeback to my brain) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Nutrient-driven histone code determines exhausted CD8+ T cell fates
ACLY-deficient CAR T cells targeting the tumor-associated antigen disialoganglioside GD2 (GD2 CAR T cells) also resisted acquiring TEX-like properties, exhibiting reduced CD39 expression when co-cultu...
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Alex Swarbrick @alexswarbrick.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Jobortunities: Shortly advertising for 2 positions, both working on the Breast Cancer Atlas, in Sydney. - Wet lab research assistant: mol bio +/- pathology desirable - Comp. Research Assistant: scRNA-Seq, spatial transcriptomics and ML Details to follow, DM or email if you are a great fit.
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Mitch Guttman @mitchguttman.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Gene regulation involves thousands of proteins that bind DNA, yet comprehensively mapping these is challenging. Our paper in Nature Genetics describes ChIP-DIP, a method for genome-wide mapping of hundreds of DNA-protein interactions in a single experiment. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
ChIP-DIP maps binding of hundreds of proteins to DNA simultaneously and identifies diverse gene regulatory elements - Nature Genetics
ChIP-DIP (ChIP done in parallel) is a highly multiplex assay for protein–DNA binding, scalable to hundreds of proteins including modified histones, chromatin regulators and transcription factors, offe...
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Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Remodeling of Il4-Il13-Il5 locus underlies selective gene expression www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Sarah-Jane Dawson @sj-dawson.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
We have a new position for a bioinformatician / computational biologist exploring genomic and epigenomic features of #cfDNA to uncover new cancer biology. careers.petermac.org/job/MELBOURN...
careers.petermac.org
Bioinformatics Post Doctoral Researcher - SJ Dawson
Bioinformatics Post Doctoral Researcher - SJ Dawson
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Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre @petermaccc.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Peter Mac is excited to join BlueSky! 🦋 We look forward to sharing ideas, fostering positivity, and connecting with you all as we work together to advance cancer care and research. Let’s inspire, collaborate, and make a difference!
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Ben Hogan @benjhogan.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Latest preprint from the lab! Vascular mural cells protect the adult brain from haemorrhage but do not control the blood-brain barrier in developing zebrafish www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Vascular mural cells protect the adult brain from haemorrhage but do not control the blood-brain barrier in developing zebrafish
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain from circulating metabolites and plays central roles in neurological diseases. Endothelial cells (ECs) of the BBB are enwrapped by mural cells includin...
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Kim Good-Jacobson @kimljacobson.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Save the date! It may be a while to go yet, but I’m very excited for our B-cellapalooza in 2026!
Keystone Symposia conference in 2026 for B cells and plasma cells, in Keystone Colorado
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