A/Prof Catherine Rush ~ Associate Professor

Cathy Rush is a Senior Lecturer and immunologist and  member of the Infectious Diseases and Immunopathogenesis Research Group (IDIRG),  the Vascular Biology Unit (VBU) and Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM).

Her principal research interest isunderstanding the immunological mechanisms underlying inflammatory and infectious diseases.

Our body's immune system protects us from severe infectious diseases, but if it becomes overactive it can drive diseases like Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), or inflammatory lung diseases: although the triggers may be different, the same key immune cells and molecules are involved in all these conditions. An understanding of the basic principles, pathways and processes of our immune system is essential for devising strategies to fight infectious diseases or treat immune-mediated disorders.

Her research interests focus on this foundation: dissecting the immune mechanisms responsible for initiating and driving chronic inflammatory diseases (RHD, AAA, Type 2 Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and furthermore how chronic inflammatory diseases impair the body's efforts to combat severe bacterial diseases including melioidosis and tuberculosis (TB).

Her expertise in mechanistic immunology and use of pre-clinical models to investigate drivers and interventions for different immune-mediated and infectious diseases has been sought across several multidisciplinary research programs. Her interests in RHD and TB and expertise in infectious disease immunology strongly align with JCUs tropical health and medicine agenda of addressing the significant health security threats facing northern Australia.

Teaching

• BM1022: Physiological Systems and Processes 2 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
• MD3011: Introduction to Clinical Healthcare Part 1 of 2 (Level 3; TSV)
• MD3012: Introduction to Clinical Healthcare Part 2 of 2 (Level 3; TSV)
• MI2011: Microbial Diversity (Level 2; TSV)
• MI3061: Advanced Immunobiology (Level 3; TSV)
• MI5061: Advanced Immunology (Level 5; TSV)
• ML3102: Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance (Level 3; TSV)
• ML4301: Clinical Biochemistry 1 (Level 4; TSV)
• ML4302: Clinical Biochemistry 2 (Level 4; TSV)
• ML4305: Immunohaematology (Level 4; TSV)
• PC2201: Infectious Diseases and Immunology for Pharmacists (Level 2; TSV)
• PP3201: Contemporary Research in Physiology (Level 3; TSV)
• PP5201: Contemporary Research in Physiology (Level 5; TSV)
• TV2002: Integrated Animal Structure and Function 2 (Level 2; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Immunological mechanisms responsible for initiating and driving the chronic inflammatory diseases Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), Type 2 Diabetes and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA
• Host-pathogen interactions and leucocyte biology in melioidosis and tuberculosis

Experience

• 2012 to present - Senior Lecturer Immunology, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2009 to 2011 - Lecturer Immunology, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2006 to 2009 - Senior Research Scientist, Vascular Biology Unit, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2000 to 2006 - Post-doctoral scientist, University of Glasgow (Glasgow, UK)
• 1997 to 2000 - Post-doctoral scientist, University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK)
• 1994 to 1996 - Post-doctoral scientist, University of Siena (Siena, Italy)

Research Disciplines

• Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology (1102)
• Medical Microbiology (1108)
• Immunology (1107)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Clinical Health (9201)

Awards

• 2012, James Cook University, Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, N Ketheesan, C Rush & B Govan.
• 2007-2009, The Townsville Hospital - Private Practice Fund Project grant, “Role of progenitor cells in aortic calcification”, $50,000, J Golledge, C Rush.
• 2009-11, NHMRC Project Grant (540405), “Angiopoietin-2, aortic inflammation and cardiovascular events”, $319,250, J Golledge, C Rush, PE Norman, J Ott.
• 2009-13, NHMRC Project Grant (540404), “Association between obesity, transforming growth factor beta, thrombospondin and small abdominal aortic aneurysm progression”, $487,500, J Golledge, PE Norman, C Rush, PJ Walker, R Dalman, J Ott.
• 2013, Advisor of the Year Awards, Advisory Panel of the Year Award with N Ketheesan and J Morris
• 2016, JCU Development Grant, Immunotherapy for Rheumatic Heart Disease, $48,795
• 2009-11, NHMRC Project Grant (540403), “Role of the tissue kallikrein-kinin system in abdominal aortic aneurysm formation and progression”, $439,745, J Golledge, C Rush, PE Norman, H Korner, J Ott, L Gera.
• 2012-2013, Pathology Queensland Scientific Services Study, Education and Research Trust Fund (SERTF), “Novel Immunomodulatory Strategies for the Management of Sepsis”, $69, 450, R. Norton, S. Simpson, N. Ketheesan, C. Rush, J. Morris, B. Govan
• 2016, AITHM Capacity Building Grant, Tuberculosis in rural PNG: T cell biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring treatment, $53,000.
• 2012-2015, NHMRC Project Grant (1026753), "Development of apreventive strategy for Rheumatic Heart Disease using an experimental model", $358,712, N Ketheesan & C Rush.

Fellowships

• Honorary Research Fellow, University of Glasgow

Memberships

• Australian Cardiovascular Alliance
• British Society for Immunology
• Lung Foundation Australia
• Society for Mucosal Immunology
• Australasian Society for Immunology

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

• Alim M, Sikder S, Bridson T, Rush C, Govan B and Ketheesan N (2017) Anti-mycobacterial function of macrophages is impaired in a diet induced model of type 2 diabetes. Tuberculosis, 102. pp. 47-54
• Krishna S, Seto S, Jose R, Li J, Morton S, Biros E, Wang Y, Nsengiyumva V, Lindeman J, Loots G, Rush C, Craig J and Golledge J (2017) Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor sclerostin inhibits angiotensin II-induced aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 37 (3). pp. 553-566
• Morris J, Fane A, Sarovich D, Price E, Rush C, Govan B, Parker E, Mayo M, Currie B and Ketheesan N (2017) Increased neurotropic threat from Burkholderia pseudomallei strains with a B. mallei-like variation in the bimA motility gene, Australia. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23 (5). pp. 740-749
• Batzloff M, Fane A, Gorton D, Pandey M, Rivera-Hernandez T, Calcutt A, Yeung G, Hartas J, Johnson L, Rush C, McCarthy J, Ketheesan N and Good M (2016) Preclinical immunogenicity and safety of a Group A streptococcal M protein-based vaccine candidate. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 12 (12). pp. 3089-3096
• Gorton D, Sikder S, Williams N, Chilton L, Rush C, Govan B, Cunningham M and Ketheesan N (2016) Repeat exposure to group A streptococcal M protein exacerbates cardiac damage in a rat model of rheumatic heart disease. Autoimmunity, 49 (8). pp. 563-570
• McNeilly C, Cosh S, Vu T, Nichols J, Henningham A, Hofmann A, Fane A, Smeesters P, Rush C, Hafner L, Ketheesan N, Sriprakash K and McMillan D (2016) Predicted coverage and immuno-safety of a recombinant C-repeat region based Streptococcus pyogenes vaccine candidate. PLoS ONE, 11 (6). pp. 1-17
• Moran C, Rush C, Dougan T, Jose R, Biros E, Norman P, Gera L and Golledge J (2016) Modulation of kinin B2 receptor signaling controls aortic dilatation and rupture in the angiotensin II-infused apolipoprotein e-deficient mouse. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 36 (5). pp. 898-907
• Morris J, Bridson T, Alim M, Rush C, Rudd D, Govan B and Ketheesan N (2016) Development of a diet-induced murine model of diabetes featuring cardinal metabolic and pathophysiological abnormalities of type 2 diabetes . Biology Open, 5. pp. 1149-1162
• Yu H, Moran C, Trollope A, Woodward L, Kinobe R, Rush C and Golledge J (2016) Angiopoietin-2 attenuates angiotensin II-induced aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Scientific Reports, 6. pp. 1-11
• Hodgson K, Morris J, Bridson T, Govan B, Rush C and Ketheesan N (2015) Immunological mechanisms contributing to the double burden of diabetes and intracellular bacterial infections. Immunology, 144 (2). pp. 171-185
• Morris J, Fane A, Rush C, Govan B, Mayo M, Currie B and Ketheesan N (2015) Neurotropic threat characterization of Burkholderia pseudomallei strains. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 21 (1). pp. 58-63
• Williams N, Morris J, Rush C and Ketheesan N (2015) Plasmacytoid dendritic cell bactericidal activity against Burkholderia pseudomallei. Microbes and Infection, 17 (4). pp. 311-316

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 65+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Catherine Rush from 1994 onwards.

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

• Determination of the Role of Group G Strep in the Pathogenesis of Rheumatic Heart Disease Using a Rat Model of RF/RHD. (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Mechanisms Driving Tuberculosis Susceptibility and Vaccine Efficacy in Type-2-Diabetes (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Characterisation of immune responses to mycobacterial infections in a murine model of type 2 diabetes. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Circulating Cells Associated with Cardiovascular Outcomes in Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

• The role of kinin receptors in abdominal aortic aneurysm (2015, PhD , Associate Advisor)
• The role of angiopoietin-2 in experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm development (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Dendritic Cell Migration Facilitates the Dissemination of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Cell-Mediated Immune Response Assays can be used as a Diagnostic Aid for Monitoring Patients with Melioidosis. (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Urocortin 2: an interesting role in human abdominal aortic aneurysm (2013, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Regulation of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) at the level of nuclear entry (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)

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.