Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr James (Jim) Harris is an Immunologist/Cell Biologist running independent research into inflammation, autophagy, endocytosis, macrophage and dendritic cell biology, autoimmunity and host-pathogen interactions. He is Head of Laboratory Research for the Rheumatology Group, run by Professor Eric Morand and is focused on innate immune responses and inflammation in autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus), systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma) and arthritis. He is also investigating the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in inflammation and cell biology.
Dr Harris received a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from the University of Nottingham, UK and his PhD in Immunology (in fish) from the University of the West of England, UK. He has worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Animal Health, UK (on cows), Oxford University, UK (on human cells), University of New Mexico, USA (on mouse cells and bacteria) and Trinity College Dublin (on all sorts). He was also Programme Manager for the Immunology Research Centre (IRC) in Ireland, a €10 million Science Foundation Ireland-funded cluster of immunology research groups. He moved to Australia and Monash in 2013.
He has publised >70 articles, with >11,000 citations (h index = 34). Jim currently serves as a Deputy Editor for Immunology & Cell Biology, an Academic Editor for PeerJ, A Review Editor for Frontiers in Immunology and as an Editorial Board Member for Arthritis Research & Therapy.
Research interests
Jim has an interest in innate immunity and more specifically the regulation of inflammation, particularly cytokine release by macrophages and dendritic cells. Recently, he has focused largely on the regulation of IL-1 family cytokines and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), demonstrating a specific role for MIF in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome (Nat Commun 2018). Directly related to this, he also works on the roles of autophagy in immune cells, particularly myeloid cells. In this context, he has published studies on the role of cytokines in regulating autophagy (Immunity 2007) and on the regulation of cytokine release by autophagy (J Biol Chem 2011, J Immunol 2012, Autophagy 2016).
Along with his interest in thecellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of inflammation and immunity, the Rheumatology Group has a strong interest in translational and biomarker studies in diseases, including SLE, arthritis and scleroderma.
Community service
Scientists In Schools
Day of Immunology Organising committee (Melbourne) 2014
Monash teaching commitment
Department Convenor, MHTP, BMS3990 Research in Action
Education/Academic qualification
Immunology, PhD, University of the West of England
… → 2000
Zoology, BSc (Hons), University of Nottingham United Kingdom
… → 1995
Research area keywords
- Arthritis
- Autophagy
- Dendritic Cell
- Immunity
- Inflammation
- Lupus
- Macrophage
- tuberculosis
- innate immunity
- scleroderma
- MIF
- Inflammasomes
- IL-1
Network
Projects
- 5 Finished
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Interleukin-1b biology: mechanisms of regulation, activation and secretion
Vince, J., Masters, S. L. & Harris, J.
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (Australia)
1/01/16 → 31/12/18
Project: Research
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New therapeutic targets in rheumatological diseases
Harris, J., Jones, S. & Morand, E.
Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation
1/01/15 → 31/12/15
Project: Research
Research output
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A sprinkle of salt in the pressure cooker of innate immunity and inflammation
Sweet, M. J., Jones, S. A. & Harris, J., 2020, (Accepted/In press) In : Immunology and Cell Biology. 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
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Assays for Measuring the Role of MIF in NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation
Pinar, A. A. & Harris, J., 2020, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: Methods and Protocols. Harris, J. & Morand, E. F. (eds.). New York, NY: Humana Press, Vol. 2080. p. 159-172 14 p. (Methods in Molecular Biology).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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Associations of serum soluble Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) with outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus
Vincent, F. B., Kandane-Rathnayake, R., Koelmeyer, R., Harris, J., Hoi, A. Y., MacKay, F., MacKay, F. & Morand, E. F., 15 Jun 2020, In : Lupus Science and Medicine. 7, 1, 9 p., e000375.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus) -
Co-Immunoprecipitation of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor
Abidi, J. H., Harris, J. & Deen, N. S., 1 Jan 2020, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: Methods and Protocols. Harris, J. & Morand, E. (eds.). New York, NY: Humana Press, p. 115-122 8 p. (Methods in Molecular Biology: Springer Protocols; vol. 2080).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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Flow Cytometry Phenotyping of Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages from Wild-Type and Mif-/- Mice
Flynn, J. K., Deen, N. S. & Harris, J., 1 Jan 2020, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: Methods and Protocols. Harris, J. & Morand, E. (eds.). New York, NY: Humana Press, p. 57-66 10 p. (Methods in Molecular Biology: Springer Protocols; vol. 2080).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
Prizes
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Paper selected for the Best of Immunology & Cell Biology (ICB)/ Clinical and Translational Immunology (CTI) Workshop at the 2019 Australian & New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI) Annual Scientific Meeting
Vincent, Fabien (Recipient), Harris, James (Recipient), Morand, Eric (Recipient), Sahhar, Joanne (Recipient), Ngian, Gene (Recipient), Kandane-Rathnayake, Rangi (Recipient), Lang, Tali (Recipient), Emily Lin (Recipient) & Rachel Mende (Recipient), 11 Dec 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Immunology and Cell Biology (Journal)
James Harris (Associate editor)
2019 → 2021Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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ComBio 2018
James Harris (Session chair)
2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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PeerJ (Journal)
James Harris (Associate editor)
2017 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Immunology and Cell Biology (Journal)
James Harris (Associate editor)
2016 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Arthritis Research and Therapy (Journal)
James Harris (Editorial board member)
2016 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility