Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
The University of Otago has launched a new brand. Find out more

Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 470 7728
Email
alex.mclellan@otago.ac.nz
Position
Professor
Department
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Qualifications
MSc (Cant) PhD (Otago)
Research summary
Cancer immunobiology

Research

CAR T cells (Chimeric Antigen Receptor-modified T cells) against solid tumours. Cancer stem cell antigens, tumour-associated antigens, and tumour microenvironment metabolites. Cytokine and chemokine receptor strategies to improve T cell function against solid tumours.

Research projects

  • Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) and NK cells targeting solid tumours
  • Dual CAR constructs against B cell malignancies and solid tumours using bi-directional promoters
  • Sleeping Beauty and Retroviral vector constructs utilising drug and auto-inducible-promoters
  • Targeting the tumour microenvironment
  • Fighting the cytokine storm
  • Improved anti-cancer T cell migration using targeted cytokines

Publications

Rad S M, A. H., Wannigama, D. L., Hirankarn, N., & McLellan, A. D. (2023). The impact of non-synonymous mutations on miRNA binding sites within the SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 and NSP4 genes. Scientific Reports, 13, 16945. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44219-y Journal - Research Article

McLellan, A. (2023, April). Passengers in blood and skin: Natural and engineered immune cells. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Inaugural Professorial Lecture]. Other Research Output

Dobson, L. J., Saunderson, S. C., Smith-Bell, S. W. J., & McLellan, A. D. (2023). Sleeping Beauty kit sets provide rapid and accessible generation of artificial antigen-presenting cells for natural killer cell expansion. Immunology & Cell Biology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12679 Journal - Research Article

Bull, D., Hazlett, J., McLellan, A., & Dunbier, A. (2023). Development and characterisation of immunocompetent models for metastatic oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Molecular Oncology, 17(Suppl. 1), (pp. 513-514). doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.13471 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Bull, D., Hazlett, J., McLellan, A., & Dunbier, A. (2022). Investigating the role of immunotherapy in the treatment of metastatic oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Proceedings of the Genetics Otago (GO) Annual Symposium. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/go Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Back to top