Cathy Rush is an Associate Professor, Immunology and member of the 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 inflammatory lung diseases , autoimmunity (e.g. Rheumatic Heart Disease) and type 2 diabetes. 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 and furthermore how these co-morbidities impair the body's efforts to combat severe bacterial diseases including 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 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; TSV)
• BM3000: Advanced Projects in Biomedicine (Level 3; TSV)
• BM5000: Advanced Projects in Biomedicine (Level 5; TSV)
• MD2011: Integrated Human System Pathophysiology Part 1 of 2 (Level 2; 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)
• MI2021: Introductory Infectious Diseases and Immunobiology (Level 2; TSV)
• MI3061: Advanced Immunobiology (Level 3; TSV)
• MI5061: Advanced Immunology (Level 5; TSV)
• ML3102: Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance (Level 3; TSV)
• PC2206: Integrated Therapeutics 1 (Level 2; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Immunological mechanisms responsible for initiating and driving the chronic inflammatory diseases , Type 2 Diabetes, RHD and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis
• Co-morbidities associated with tuberculosis susceptibility and progression.

Experience

• 2016 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University (Townsville)
• 2012 to 2015 - 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

• Medical microbiology (3207)
• Clinical sciences (3202)
• Immunology (3204)

Awards

• 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.
• 2012, James Cook University, Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, N Ketheesan, C Rush & B Govan.
• 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.
• 2016, JCU Development Grant, Immunotherapy for Rheumatic Heart Disease, $48,795
• 2013, Advisor of the Year Awards, Advisory Panel of the Year Award with N Ketheesan and J Morris
• 2016, Advisor of the Year Awards, HDR Advisor Special Recognition Award
• 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
• 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.
• 2007-2009, The Townsville Hospital - Private Practice Fund Project grant, “Role of progenitor cells in aortic calcification”, $50,000, J Golledge, C Rush.

Fellowships

• Honorary Research Fellow, University of Glasgow

Memberships

• Australian Cardiovascular Alliance
• Society for Mucosal Immunology
• Lung Foundation Australia
• Australasian Society for Immunology
• British 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, Kupz A, Sikder S, Rush C, Govan B and Ketheesan N (in press) Increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a diet-induced murine model of type 2 diabetes. Microbes and Infection, , DOI:10.1016/j.micinf.2020.03.004.
• Muruganandah V, Sathkumara H, Pai S, Rush C, Brosch R, Waardenberg A and Kupz A (2020) A systematic approach to simultaneously evaluate safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of novel tuberculosis vaccination strategies. Science Advances, 6 (10), DOI:10.1126/sciadv.aaz1767.
• Sathkumara H, Hansen K, Miranda-Hernandez S, Govan B, Rush C, Henning L, Ketheesan N and Kupz A (2020) Disparate effects of metformin on Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in diabetic and nondiabetic mice. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 65 (1), Article: e01422-20, DOI:10.1128/AAC.01422-20.
• Sathkumara H, Muruganandah V, Cooper M, Field M, Alim M, Brosch R, Ketheesan N, Govan B, Rush C, Henning L and Kupz A (2020) Mucosal delivery of ESX-1–expressing BCG strains provides superior immunity against tuberculosis in murine type 2 diabetes. National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings, 117 (34), pp. 20848-20859, DOI:10.1073/pnas.2003235117.
• Alim M, Sikder S, Sathkumara Mudiyanselage H, Kupz A, Rush C, Govan B and Ketheesan N (2019) Dysregulation of key cytokines may contribute to increased susceptibility of diabetic mice to Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection. Tuberculosis, 115, pp. 113-120, DOI:10.1016/j.tube.2019.02.005.
• Alim M, Sikder S, Sathkumara Mudiyanselage H, Kupz A, Rush C, Govan B and Ketheesan N (2019) Dysregulation of key cytokines may contribute to increased susceptibility of diabetic mice to Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection. Tuberculosis, 115, pp. 113-120, DOI:10.1016/j.tube.2019.02.005.
• Diefenbach-Elstob T, Guernier-Cambert V, Gula B, Dowi R, Pelowa D, Pomat W, Rush C, Plummer D, McBryde E and Warner J (2019) Spatial distribution of tuberculosis in a rural region of Western Province, Papua New Guinea. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response, 10 (4), pp. 1-8, DOI:10.5365/wpsar.2019.10.2.001.
• Diefenbach-Elstob T, Guernier V, Burgess G, Pelowa D, Dowi R, Gula B, Puri M, Pomat W, McBryde E, Plummer D, Rush C and Warner J (2019) Molecular evidence of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the Balimo region of Papua New Guinea. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 4 (1), Article: 33, DOI:10.3390/tropicalmed4010033.
• Guernier-Cambert V, Diefenbach-Elstob T, Klotoe B, Burgess G, Pelowa D, Dowi R, Gula B, McBryde E, Refrégier G, Rush C, Sola C and Warner J (2019) Diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Middle Fly District of Western Province, Papua New Guinea: microbead-based spoligotyping using DNA from Ziehl-Neelsen-stained microscopy preparations. Scientific Reports, 9, Article: 15549, DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-51892-5.
• Sikder S, Rush C, Govan B, Alim M and Ketheesan N (2019) Anti-streptococcal antibody and T-cell interactions with vascular endothelial cells initiate the development of rheumatic carditis. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 107 (2), pp. 263-271, DOI:10.1002/JLB.4MA0919-096RR.
• Sikder S, Price G, Alim M, Gautam A, Simpson R, Rush C, Govan B and Ketheesan N (2019) Group A streptococcal M-protein specific antibodies and T-cells drive the pathology observed in the rat autoimmune valvulitis model. Autoimmunity, 52 (2), pp. 78-87, DOI:10.1080/08916934.2019.1605356.
• Sikder S, Williams N, Sorenson A, Alim M, Vidgen M, Moreland N, Rush C, Simpson R, Govan B, Norton R, Cunningham M, McMillan D, Sriprakash K and Ketheesan N (2018) Group G streptococcus induces an autoimmune carditis mediated by interleukin 17A and interferon γ in the Lewis rat model of rheumatic heart disease. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 218 (2), pp. 324-335, DOI:10.1093/infdis/jix637.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 79+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Catherine Rush from 1994 onwards.

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

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

• Gastrointestinal parasites, Tuberculosis co-infection and immune status in a Tuberculosis endemic community in remote Papua New Guinea (Masters , Primary Advisor)
• Reducing Virulence of Fungal Pathogens using Genetics Tools (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)

Completed

• Characterisation of immune responses to mycobacterial infections in a murine model of type 2 diabetes (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Determination of the role of group G Streptococcus in the pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease using a rat model (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Regulation of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) at the level of nuclear entry (2016, PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Mechanisms driving tuberculosis susceptibility and vaccine efficacy in HIV/AIDS and type 2 diabetes (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Circulating cells associated with cardiovascular outcomes in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (2018, PhD , Secondary 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.