About

Associate Professor John Miles was awarded BSc Hons in 2001 and a PhD in 2008 from the University of Queensland. His work involves understanding basic immune processes which determine the host’s response to infectious disease and chronic conditions. 

He has been awarded a NHMRC Dora Lush Biomedical Postgraduate Scholarship, a NHMRC Overseas Biomedical Fellowship, Welcome Trust VIP Award, WORD Medical Research Fellowship and NHMRC Career Development Fellowships Level 1 and Level 2 (2017-2020). Other awards include the Young Tall Poppy Science Award from the Australian Institute of Policy and Science and Centenary Medal from the Australian Government and her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for Distinguished Service to Medical Research and the Community. John spent 2008-2012 researching immunomonitoring and immune engineering technologies at Cardiff University and was promoted Head of the Human Immunity Laboratory at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute from 2012-2016. In 2016, John joined the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine is currently a Principal Research Fellow in Molecular Immunology at the Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics and the Centre for Biosecurity and Tropical Infectious Diseases. His research has been funded by 12 national and international schemes including Perpetual, NHMRC and ARC.

Experience
  • 2016 to present - Consultant, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (Herston, Australia)
  • 2016 to present - Principal Research Fellow & NHMRC Career Development Fellow, Molecular Immunology, Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (James Cook University, Australia)
  • 2008 to present - Research Officer, Cellular Immunology Laboratory, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) (Herston, Australia)
  • 2012 to 2016 - Group Leader & NHMRC Career Development Fellow, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (Herston, Australia)
  • 2010 to 2011 - WORD Senior Research Fellow, T Cell Modulation Laboratory, School of Medicine, Department of Infection and Immunity (Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom)
  • 2008 to 2010 - Research Fellow, T Cell Modulation Laboratory, School of Medicine, Department of Infection and Immunity (Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom)
  • 2004 to 2008 - Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology, The University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia)
  • 2002 to 2004 - Research Assistant, Cellular Immunology Laboratory, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) (Herston, Australia)
  • 2001 to 2002 - Consultant, The Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI); Tick Fever Research Center (TFRC) & Animal Research Institute (ARI) (Brisbane, Australia)
  • 2001 - Bachelor of Science (Honours), Microbiology Major, The University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia)
  • 1998 to 2000 - Bachelor of Science, Microbiology and Physiology Majors, The University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia)
Research Disciplines
Socio-Economic Objectives
Honours
Awards
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Traveling Award for Research Training
  • Wellcome Trust VIP Award, ranked 1st in category
  • Centenary Medal from the Australian Government and her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for Distinguished Service to Medical Research and the Community
  • Australian Society for Immunology (ASI) Post-doctoral International Travel Award
  • The University of Queensland Award for Outstanding Record of Research Performance and Publication; Comprising Certificate and Cash Prize
  • Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) International Travel Award
  • Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) International Postgraduate Travel Award
  • Australian Society for Immunology (ASI) Postgraduate International Travel Award
  • Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Dora Lush Biomedical Postgraduate Scholarship
  • Australian Society for Immunology (ASI) Best Article Prize
  • Young Tall Poppy Science Award 2013 from the Australian Institute of Policy and Science.
  • Williams Morgan Thomas Bequest Award
  • British Society for Immunology (BSI) International Travel Award
  • Queensland Cancer Fund (QCF) International Travel Award
Fellowships
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Biomedical Fellowship
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Fellowship Level 2
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Fellowship Level 1
  • Wales Office of Research and Development (WORD) Medical Research Fellowship
Memberships
  • 2017 - Organizing committee, The Australian Tropical Health Conference 2017
  • 2015 - Organizing committee, The Brisbane Immunology Group (BIG) Annual Conference 2015
  • 2015 - Organizing committee, 46th Australian Society for Immunology Annual meeting 2017
  • 2015 - Organizing committee, The 6th Australasian Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Development Meeting 2016
  • 2005 - The Australian Society of Medical Research (ASMR)
  • 2003 - The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Information Technology Committee
  • 2002 - International Epstein-Barr Virus Association
  • 2002 - The Australian Society for Immunology (ASI)
  • 2008 to 2012 - The British Society of Immunology (BSI)
  • 2001 to 2004 - The Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM)
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 106+ research outputs authored by Prof John Miles from 2003 onwards.

Current Funding

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

Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited - Contract Research

Can portable genome sequencing provide a rapid, comprehensive, point-of-care diagnostic test for Far North Queensland hospitals and healthcare centres?

Indicative Funding
$49,987
Summary
Respiratory disease, fevers, and sepsis are common in FNQ and treatment often requires admission to hospital. These infections have many different causes, and diagnosing them requires multiple tests that take weeks to perform. Consequently, patients are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics before a pathogen is identified, leading to poorer outcomes for the patient and contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections. We will trial new genome sequencing technology as a point-of-care diagnostic test for fever, sepsis, and pneumonia at Cairns Hospital, and test the hypothesis that this approach will increase the proportion of infections that are diagnosed and reduce the time-to-diagnosis.
Investigators
John McBride, Cadhla Firth, Simon Smith, Joshua Hanson, Matt Field, Emma McBryde, John Miles, Damon Eisen and Chris Heather (College of Medicine & Dentistry, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and Queensland Health)
Keywords
Genomics; Healthcare; pathogens

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (US) - Research Grant

Finding the Optimal Regimen for Mycobacterium abscessus Treatment (FORMAT)

Indicative Funding
$295,961 over 3 years (administered by University of Queensland)
Summary
This application leverages a recently successful peer-reviewed, competitive, 5-year Australian government (Medical Research Futures Fund, MRFF) funded grant on cystic fibrosis that covers the establishment of a platform trial and the participation of Australian sites. This will evaluate microbiological, functional, radiological and health related quality of life (QoL) outcomes of currently used antibiotic therapies for treating MABS-PD in patients with and without CF, in parallel with biomarkers of infection and microbiological clearance, as well as a health economic analysis.
Investigators
Claire Wainwright, John Miles and David Reid (The University of Queensland, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute)
Keywords
Immune System; T Cells; Immune monitoring

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

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

An integrated, multi-model bio-layer interferometry facility

Indicative Funding
$945,000 (administered by 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

National Health & Medical Research Council - Career Development Fellowship

Understanding and modulating the human immune system. RD Wright Biomedical Career Development Fellowship Level 2

Indicative Funding
$476,728 over 4 years
Summary
T cells are central in the surveillance and clearance of infectious challenges and cancer. T cells are also engines behind autoimmunity and graft rejection. Understanding and controlling this powerful immune lineage has the potential to unlock new treatments across hundreds of human diseases. This research aims to draw on powerful new technologies including high-dimensional phenotyping and high throughput sequencing to analyse the T cell compartment in high detail. The overarching goals of the research are a better comprehension of the human T cell compartment and the generation of new tools that can control its form and function.
Investigators
John Miles (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
T cells; Immune System; infectious disease; chronic conditions

National Health & Medical Research Council - Project Grant

Using Methods in Genetic Epidemiology to Elucidate the Relationship Between Viral Infection and Risk of Autoimmune Disease

Indicative Funding
$412,038 over 2 years (administered by University of Queensland)
Summary
The aim of this project is to investigate a possible causal link between six ubiquitous human viruses and the development of four autoimmune diseases. Should our results be consistent with a causal relationship, we expect that approaches aimed at controlling viral infection through vaccination, antiviral drugs or treatment with virus-specific T cell infusions may become effective treatments or preventative strategies against autoimmune diseases in the future.
Investigators
David Evans, John Miles, George Smith and Nicole Warrington (The University of Queensland, Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine and University of Bristol)
Keywords
Virus; Autoimmune Disease

National Health & Medical Research Council - Project Grant

The bioactivity and binding partners of Irukandji and Box Jellyfish venom

Indicative Funding
$605,307 over 3 years
Summary
Venom from the Box Jellyfish and Irukandji jellyfish are considered the most lethal known to science yet precious little is known on the nature of these secretions or how they harm humans. This study aims to fully characterise bioactive proteins in jellyfish venom and attempt to block their activity using regulatory-approved and experimental drugs.
Investigators
John Miles, Jason Mulvenna and Irina Vetter (Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, Queensland Institute of Medical Research and The University of Queensland)
Keywords
Venom; Cytokine production; Inflammation

National Health & Medical Research Council - Project Grant

A new approach to the design and evaluation of T cell vaccines for cancer and infectious disease

Indicative Funding
$16,250 over 2 years (administered by University of Queensland)
Summary
There is irrefutable evidence that effective cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are essential for the eradication of cancers and many pathogens for which there are no effective vaccines. Dendritic cells (DC) are rare white blood cells that play a pivotal role in the induction of CTL. We will develop a novel strategy for inducing high quality human CTL by manipulating the key DC subtype responsible for initiating these responses. We originally characterised the human CD141+ DC subtype that are widely considered to be the most clinically relevant human DC subset for inducing CTL and are therefore prime targets for vaccine development. Antibodies (Ab) that engage cell surface receptors expressed on DC can be used as vehicles to carry antigenic cargo directly to DC in vivo. We discovered the novel C-type lectin like receptor, CLEC9A, that is specifically expressed by CD141+ DC. We propose that anti-CLEC9A Ab can be used to deliver antigen (Ag) directly to CD141+ DC in vivo and exploited as a new vaccine platform. We have already demonstrated proof of-concept of this approach in mouse models and now aim to translate this platform to humans.
Investigators
Kristin Radford, Mireille Lahoud, David M Price and John Miles (The University of Queensland, Monash University, Cardiff University and Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine)
Keywords
Vaccine design; Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) evaluation; Immunotherapy
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
  • C. Fleckeri Mode of Action Investigation (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
  • Identification of viral versus bacterial triggers in immune cells from AECOPD patients (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Stonefish: decoding the venom's molecular properties (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Completed
  • High-throughput and high-definition analysis of human T cell repertoires in health and disease (2020, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
  • Deconstructing the immunopathogenesis of lung infections (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
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
  • E5.109, AITHM Cairns (Cairns campus)
Advisory Accreditation
Advisor Mentor

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