About

I obtained a BSc Hons in 1990 and a PhD in 1995 from University of Queensland in the field of immunoparasitology. I then conducted postdoctoral work at University of Edinburgh with Rick Maizels and an assistant professorship at George Washington University in the US to work with Peter Hotez and the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative. In 2004 I returned to Australia as an NHMRC Career Development Fellow at Queensland Institute of Medical Research where I established the Helminth Biology laboratory. In 2010 I moved to James Cook University in Cairns, QLD as a Tropical Research Leader, where I established the Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics (now Centre for Molecular Therapeutics). I have held consistent NHMRC funding in the form of fellowships (currently senior principal research fellow), program grants, project grants and development grants, as well as regular funding from the US National Insitutes of Health and various pharmaceutical companies, including Merck, AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson. I am lead founder of Paragen Bio, a spin-out company developing worm-derived proteins as anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

My group is primarily interested in the secretomes of parasitic helminths, and the subsequent use of worm secreted proteins as therapeutics and diagnostic tools. Major projects in the lab include;

1. Use of worm proteins as novel anti-inflammatories for treating a range of autoimmune and allergic disorders of humans.

2. Clinical trials to assess the therapeutic properties of iatrogenic hookworm infection in human inflammatory and metabolic diseases

3. Use of proteome microarrays to discover vaccine and diagnostic antigens for human helminth infections.

4. Understanding the mechanisms by which parasitic helminths suppress (and in some cases, drive) immunopathology with a particular emphasis on extracellular proteins and vesicles. 

In addition to my role at JCU, I serve as deputy editor of the International Journal for Parasitology.

Interests
Research
  • Helminth secretomes and how they orchestrate a parasitic existence.
  • Helminth vaccine discovery and development.
  • Helminth-derived anti-inflammatory proteins.
Experience
  • 2010 to present - Professor, James Cook University (Cairns, QLD)
  • 2004 to 2009 - Group Leader, Queensland Institute of Medical Research (Brisbane, QLD)
  • 2002 to 2004 - Assistant Professor, George Washington University (Washington, DC, USA)
  • 2000 to 2002 - Howard Florey fellow, Queensland Institute of Medical Research (Brisbane, QLD)
  • 1996 to 1999 - Postdoc, University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, UK)
  • 1991 to 1995 - PhD student, University of Queensland (Brisbane, QLD)
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Awards
  • 2014 - NHMRC Ten of the Best 2013
  • 2012 - Fulbright Senior Scholar Award to spend three months at University of California, Irvine
Fellowships
  • 2019 - Fellow of the Australian Society for Parasitology
  • 2017 to 2021 - NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow
  • 2012 to 2016 - NHMRC Principal Research Fellow
  • 2007 to 2011 - NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
  • 2004 to 2006 - NHMRC Career Development Fellow
  • 1999 to 2000 - NHMRC Howard Florey fellowship
Other
  • 2018 - Distinguished Professor
  • 2009 to 2014 - Editor-in-Chief, International Journal for Parasitology
  • 2007 to 2008 - Deputy Editor, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 278+ research outputs authored by Prof Alex Loukas from 2002 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

National Health & Medical Research Council - Investigator Grants

Next-generation therapeutics inspired by parasitic helminths.

Indicative Funding
$3,327,015 over 5 years
Summary
This project utilises helminth secretomes to develop: (i) anti-helminth vaccines; (ii) diagnostics for helminth infections; and (iii) helminth secreted moieties for treating autoimmune and metabolic diseases. The end goal is to discover and develop innovative vaccines, diagnostics and immunotherapeutics sources from helminth secretomes.
Investigators
Alex Loukas (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Helminths; Diagnostics; Vaccines; Drug Discovery; Therapeutics; Autoimmune

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency - Grant

Personal Protective Biosystems - Membranes and commensal helminths (MaCH)

Indicative Funding
$2,714,230 over 5 years (administered by Charles River Analytics)
Summary
The proposed work will design a 2-part protective biosystem capable of dramatically reducing the burden of personal protective equipmetn (PPE). The first component consists of a garmetn system with a dynamic, selectively permeable graphene composite barrier laqyer and integrated self-cleaning functionality provided by metal oranic frameworks. The sedon component (including work to be done at JCU) leverages genetic modification of human helminth parasites (hookworms and/or schistosomes) to provide prophylaxis and neutralisation of various chemical and/or biological agents.
Investigators
Alex Loukas in collaboration with Paul Giacomin (College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences and Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Helminth; Transgenesis; Protective Equipment; Defense; Clinical Trial; Countermeasures

Australian Research Council - Linkage - Infrastructure (L-IEF)

Enhancing Australian biodiscovery molecule generation, storage and access.

Indicative Funding
$62,392 over 1 year (administered by Griffith University)
Summary
The project aims to establish the Australian Biodiscovery Network with the following integrated infrastructure: sample processing robotics and storage to enhance national biomolecule curation and access at Compounds Australia and automated LC/MS to increase natural product extraction at NatureBank at Griffith Uni; a robotic colony picker to expand the Uni Queensland Microbes Australia library; a protein purification system to facilitate pathogen biologic discovery at James Cook Uni; live cell imaging to enable biodiscovery for aquaculture at Uni Sunshine Coast. This infrastructure will enhance biodiscovery capacity of QLD universities and benefit hundreds of researchers nationally across health, aquaculture, agriculture and food security.
Investigators
Katherine Andrews, Robert Capon, Alex Loukas, Scott Cummins, Rohan Davis, Ian Henderson, Denise Doolan, Abigail Elizur, Sally-Ann Poulsen, Mark Blaskovich, Tianfang Wang, Yun Jiang Feng, Philip Hugenholtz and Zeinab Khalil (Griffith University, The University of Queensland, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and University of the Sunshine Coast)
Keywords
Biodiscovery; Infrastructure; Biology; Chemistry; Integrated; Molecules

CRC for Developing Northern Australia - Grant

Novel therapeutics for diabetes sourced from Northern Australian biota.

Indicative Funding
$1,192,109 over 2 years (administered by Macrobiome Therapeutics)
Summary
he aim of this project is to develop lead diabetes drug candidates from hookworm saliva and build a package for multinational commercial investment. The project aims to deliver the following outcomes: 1. Screen a synthetic hookworm library (consisting of hundreds of hookworm proteins) for anti-inflammatory activity and express lead candidates using pharmaceutical industry standard techniques. 2. Assess efficacy of leads in mouse models of diet-induced T2D. 3. Understand the mechanism of lead drug action and prioritize candidates for progression into clinical development. 4. Set the scene for a burgeoning biotech industry in Northern Australia that is differentiated from those in the south, and indeed globally, by capitalizing on the unique biodiversity of the region and the therapeutic opportunities it presents.
Investigators
Paul Giacomin and Alex Loukas (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Diabetes; Hookworm Library; Hookworm saliva

National Health & Medical Research Council - e-Asia Joint Research Program Funding

Tools to diagnose carcinogenic liver fluke infection

Indicative Funding
$510,337 over 3 years
Summary
This program aims to develop molecular tests to diagnose carcinogenic infections with parasitic liver flukes. Throughout Eurasia, ingestion of raw or undercooked fish infected with Opisthorchis species flukes leads to infection, which over decades culminates in fatal liver cancer. Sensitive point-of-care tests to diagnose fluke infection are urgently needed and will be the focus of this proposal.
Investigators
Alex Loukas and Mark Pearson in collaboration with Javier Sotillo-Gallego, Olga Fedorova, Philip Felgner and Thewarch Laha (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Yale University, University of California and Khon Kaen University)
Keywords
Liver Fluke; Parisitology; Diagnostic; Carcinogenic infections; OpisThorchis

National Institute of Health - RO1

Carcinogenic liver fluke infection: Gene editing- and vaccination-mediated approaches to interrupt host-parasite communication

Indicative Funding
$825,674 over 5 years (administered by George Washington University)
Summary
Long term infection with liver fluke - a food-borne parasitic worm - leads to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a form of liver cancer with a dismal prognosis. Previously we identified proteins and vesicles from these parasites that may cause this cancer. This new project will investigate the roles of these parasite proteins and vesicles in cancer, which may lead to new treatments and control for fluke infection and CCA.
Investigators
Alex Loukas, Michael Smout and Javier Sotillo-Gallego (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Cancer; Infectious disease; Parasite; CRISPR/Cas9; Vaccines

Coeliac Australia - Exploratory Grant

Exploring new therapeutic approaches for coeliac disease based on biological effects of hookworm treatment.

Indicative Funding
$45,455 over 2 years
Summary
We hypothesise that hookworm infection creates an anti-inflammatory environment in the small intestine that favours improved gluten intolerance in coeliac disease, and undersstanding the biological mechanisms that lead to improved gluten intolerance will advance the development of novel theraplies that will not require being infected with live worms. The overall aim of this project is to comprehensively profile the biological responses in the gut and faeces using innovative, complementary techniques (RNA-sequencing, transcriptomic imaging and microbiome analyses) and correlate these changes with improved coeliac disease outcomes.
Investigators
Paul Giacomin, John Croese, Graham Radford Smith, Nathan Subramaniam, Tony Rahman and Alex Loukas (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Queensland University of Technology, College of Public Health and Medical & Vet Sciences)
Keywords
Coeliac Disease; Microbiome; Inflammation; Hookworm; Inflammation

National Health & Medical Research Council - Development Grant

Hookworm peptide therapeutic for oral treatment of IBD

Indicative Funding
$732,700 over 2 years
Summary
We intend to develop an orally delivered peptide that can modulate the immune system and be developed as a therapeutic for inflammatory bowel disease. We have identified a peptide, derived from a hookworm protein, that alleviates the clinical symptoms of experimental colitis when orally administered to mice. The peptide has bioactivity with human cells ex vivo and displays desirable drug-like properties. The aim of this project is to acquire further data on the mechanism of action and formulation conditions to facilitate formal product development prior to licensing and clinical trials.
Investigators
Alex Loukas, Norelle Daly, Paul Giacomin, John Miles, Roland Ruscher, Keith Dredge, Istvan Toth, Mariusz Skwarczynski, Matthew Moyle, Ashley Waardenberg, John Croese, Matt Field and Tony Rahman (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, The University of Queensland and The Prince Charles Hospital)
Keywords
Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Peptide; therapeutic; Hookworm; Oral delivery

National Health & Medical Research Council - Program

Tropical diseases: Translating discoveries into better health

Indicative Funding
$4,400,810 over 5 years (administered by University of Melbourne)
Summary
Our overall working hypotheses are: 1. The rational design of tropical disease vaccines and other therapeutics requires improved understanding of immunology, host-parasite interactions and application of innovative bioengineering. 2.Improved interventions will be required to eliminate tropical infectious diseases. Our Specific Aims are: 1. Discover pathogenic and immune mechanisms, protective antigens, biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the control of tropical infectious diseases. 2. Develop new vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. 3. Optimise human pathogen challenge models to study host-pathogen interactions and test new vaccines and therapeutics. 4. Develop and test new clinical and public health interventions in disease-endemic settings.
Investigators
James McCarthy, Nicholas Anstey, Denise Doolan, Chris Engwerda, Michael Good, Alex Loukas, Donald McManus, Richard Price and Istvan Toth (University of Melbourne, Menzies Research Institute, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, QIMR Berghofer, Griffith University, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, Menzies School of Health Research and The University of Queensland)
Keywords
Malaria; Vaccine; Diagnostic; Protein; Therapeutic; Immunomodulatory

National Health & Medical Research Council - Senior Principal Research Fellowship

Helminth secretomes: from vaccines to novel anti-inflammatory biologics

Indicative Funding
$938,910 over 5 years
Summary
Over the next 5 years I will use innovative approaches to develop a pipeline of helminth vaccine antigens and immunoregulatory biologics while progressing the current lead candidates through clinical development and testing.
Investigators
Alex Loukas (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Allergy; Vaccines; Drug development; Autoimmunity; Helminths

Australian Research Council - Linkage - Infrastructure (L-IEF)

An integrated, multi-model bio-layer interferometry facility

Indicative Funding
$945,000 over 1 year (administered by The University of Queensland)
Summary
Biomolecular interaction research in Australia is currently constrained by low-throughput, labour intensive techniques that impede research progress and often forces it overseas. This project aims to develop a world class, integrated, multi-node bio-layer interferometry facility. This project expects to generate new knowledge in diverse areas of research ranging from biodiscovery to agricultural vaccine technology. Using biolayer interferometry, the leading-edge biomolecular interaction technique will provide significant benefits by developing high-significant assay techniques, thus enabling diverse streams of national benefit research and propelling Australia to the forefront of biomolecular interaction research.
Investigators
Brian Fry, Godwin Ayoko, Brett Collins, Scott Cummins, Norelle Daly, Denise Doolan, Luke Guddat, Emad Kiriakous, Alex Loukas, Stephen Mahler, John Miles, Bernd Rehm, Tomer Ventura, Irina Vetter and Wang Tianfang (The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and Griffith University)
Keywords
Protein Interactions; interferometry; Therapeutics
Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current
  • Hookworm Extracellular Vesicle microRNAs target Mammalian Host Genes involved in Inflammation (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • The Structure and Function of Ichthyocrinotoxins in Stone Fish and it's possible Application as an Anti-Helminth Treatment (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Development of Anti-Inflammatory Peptides (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
  • Anti-inflammatory Molecules of the selected Aboriginal Plants and Helminths (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • The Role of Intestinal T Cells in Gut Homeostasis and Disease (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • Identifying the Antigenic Targets of Protective Immunity in Human Subjects Vaccinated with Irradiated Hookworm Larvae (Masters , Primary Advisor)
  • Evaluating Zoonotic Malaria Transmission in North Sumatra, Indonesia (PhD , Advisor Mentor)
  • Novel type 2 diabetes therapeutics from recombinant human hookworm secretome (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Completed
Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.

  • 5+ collaborations
  • 4 collaborations
  • 3 collaborations
  • 2 collaborations
  • 1 collaboration
  • Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)

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Email
Phone
Location
  • E5.103, AITHM Cairns (Cairns campus)
Advisory Accreditation
Advisor Mentor
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