Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, disease and tissue damage. However, ongoing or misdirected inflammation underlies many diseases.

Approximately one in three Australians has a chronic inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.

We are working to develop a detailed understanding of the triggers that promote inflammation and how this can lead to disease. We aim to harness this knowledge to develop new diagnostics and treatments for inflammatory diseases

Health impact

Immune health and infection: allergy, autoinflammatory diseases, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, psoriasis, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis 

Development and ageing: congenital diseases, multiple sclerosis

Division news

• Immune system's balancing act keeps bowel disease in check
• Combination approach improves power of new cancer therapy
• New target could soothe the itch of inflammatory skin conditions 
• Searching for targeted treatments for inflammatory diseases
• Human immune trigger map paves way for better treatments

Division head

Professor James Murphy

Lab heads

Dr Philippe Bouillet

Associate Professor Edwin Hawkins

Professor Seth Masters

Professor Sandra Nicholson

Professor John Silke

Professor David Vaux

Associate Professor James Vince

Professor Ian Wicks

Division coordinator

Dr James Richards