Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Associate Professor Tracy Heng is a Laboratory Head in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and Deputy Head of the Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Tracy obtained her PhD at Monash University, developing strategies to improve immune function in ageing and disease. She undertook postdoctoral training with Profs Harald von Boehmer, Christophe Benoist and Diane Mathis at Harvard Medical School in Boston to establish the Immunological Genome Project (immgen.org), a widely utilised resource for immunological gene expression profiling. Tracy is a recipient of the 2015 Young Tall Poppy Science Award (Australian Institute of Policy and Science), the 2016 Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research (National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia), an ARC Postdoctoral (Industry) Fellowship and an NHMRC R.D. Wright Biomedical Career Development Fellowship. She currently leads a research program focussed on overcoming immunological barriers to stem cell therapies.
Research interests
Our research aims to understand the immune response to stem cell transplantation and cell therapy, with a view to overcome immunological barriers and other challenges for effective translation of such treatments.
Supervision interests
PhD projects available:
- Apoptosis in mesenchymal stromal cell therapy
- Therapeutic applications of apoptotic cell secretome
- Ageing and mesenchymal stem cells in lymphoid organs
- Surface coatings for directed differentiation of iPSCs to T cells
- Biological considerations in stem cell manufacturing
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- mesenchymal stem cells
- stromal cells
- T cells
- thymus
- immune ageing
- cell therapy
- immunomodulation
- haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
- bone marrow transplantation
- immune tolerance
- stem cells
- stem cell therapy
- immune function
- apoptosis
- cell death
- macrophages
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
-
Surface coatings for directed differentiation for iPSCs to T-cells
Meagher, L. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Heng, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Boyd, R. L. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Ruka, D. (Project Manager)
26/06/23 → 26/12/26
Project: Research
-
The mesenchymal stromal cell paradox – living cell therapy or dying therapeutic cell?
Heng, T. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mueller, S. N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Poon, I. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Naderer, T. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Creek, D. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Nagy, A. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/01/22 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
-
ARC Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies
Meagher, L. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Bray, L. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Voelcker, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Risbridger, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hutmacher, D. W. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Batra, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dargaville, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Elnathan, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Saifzadeh, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Heng, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Aguilar, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lim, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Klein, T. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fisher, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), McGovern, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dislakis, V. (Partner Investigator (PI)), McLellan, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Dulleck, U. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Steck, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Scott, W. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Corrie, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Thissen, H. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Cameron, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Haupt, L. M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Werner, C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Levett, P. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Whyte, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Forsythe, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Smith, N. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Frith, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hicks, C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Rackham, O. J. L. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Sohal, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Polo, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), May, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Reimers, N. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Toh, Y.-C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McKee, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Adams, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Obschonka, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Subramaniam, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Yambem, S. D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Russell-Bennett, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bertram, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Schierjott, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Hollands, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Currie, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ball, G. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Trapani, J. A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Cadarso Busto, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Loessner, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ecker, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Boyd, R. L. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Lim, J. (Partner Investigator (PI))
Australian Research Council (ARC), PolVax Pty Ltd, Cartherics Pty Ltd, TissueGUARD GmbH, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, TissueGnostics GmbH
13/01/21 → 30/11/27
Project: Research
-
Unexpected role of splenic macrophages in anti-inflammatory cell-based therapy
Heng, T. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Payne, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mueller, S. N. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Powell, D. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/01/23 → 31/12/23
Project: Research
-
SCIREQ inExpose system
Winship, A., Carroll, J., Bourke, J., Simonds, S., Heng, T., Hutt, K., Stringer, J., Western, P., Coelho Marques, F. & Abud, H.
1/10/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
-
Subcutaneous delivery of mesenchymal stromal cells induces immunoregulatory effects in the lymph node prior to their apoptosis
Zheng, D., Bhuvan, T., Payne, N. L., Pang, S. H. M., Mendonca, S., Hutchinson, M. R., McKinnirey, F., Morgan, C., Vesey, G., Meagher, L. & Heng, T. S. P., 17 Nov 2024, In: Stem Cell Research & Therapy. 15, 1, 16 p., 432.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Fibroblastic reticular cells provide a supportive niche for lymph node–resident macrophages
D'Rozario, J., Knoblich, K., Lütge, M., Pérez Shibayama, C., Cheng, H.-W., Alexandre, Y. O., Roberts, D., Campos, J., Dutton, E., Suliman, M., Denton, A. E., Turley, S. J., Boyd, R. L., Mueller, S. N., Ludewig, B., Heng, T. S. P. & Fletcher, A. L., Sept 2023, In: European Journal of Immunology. 53, 9, 14 p., 2250355.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access11 Citations (Scopus) -
Route-dependent mechanisms of mesenchymal stromal cell therapy
Zheng, D., Bhuvan, T., Payne, N. & Heng, T. S. P., May 2023, In: Cytotherapy. 25, 6 Supplement, p. S60 1 p., 146.Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting Abstract › peer-review
-
Secondary Lymphoid Organs in Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy: More Than Just a Filter
Zheng, D., Bhuvan, T., Payne, N. & Heng, T. S. P., 16 Jun 2022, In: Frontiers in Immunology. 13, 14 p., 892443.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access7 Citations (Scopus) -
Fibroblastic reticular cells provide a supportive niche for lymph node-resident macrophages
D'Rozario, J., Knoblich, K., Pérez Shibayama, C., Lütge, M., Cheng, H.-W., Alexandre, Y. O., Roberts, D., Campos, J., Astarita, J., Dutton, E., Suliman, M., Denton, A. E., Turley, S. J., Boyd, R., Mueller, S., Ludewig, B., Heng, T. S. P. & Fletcher, A. L., Nov 2021, 33 p. bioRxiv.Research output: Other contribution › Research
Open Access
Prizes
-
Australian Postdoctoral (Industry) Fellowship
Heng, T. (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Competitive Fellowships
-
Faculty Early Career Research Fellows Publication Prize
Heng, T. (Recipient), 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research
Heng, T. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
R.D. Wright Biomedical Career Development Fellowship
Heng, T. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Competitive Fellowships
-
Activities
-
International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Committee
Heng, T. (Member)
Apr 2025Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
-
National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia (External organisation)
Tracy Heng (Member)
2023 → …Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of an advisory panel/policy group/ board
-
Frontiers in Immunology (Journal)
Tracy Heng (Editorial board member)
2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
-
Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
Tracy Heng (Member)
2018 → 2021Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
-
International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy
Tracy Heng (Member)
2018 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
Press/Media
-
Metcalf Prize for Stem Cell Research
24/07/16 → 3/08/16
3 Media contributions
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
-
Establishment of transplantation tolerance via minimal conditioning in aged recipients
20/09/14 → 11/11/14
3 items of Media coverage, 1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
-
Alveolar macrophages are critical for the inhibition of allergic asthma by mesenchymal stromal cells
12/09/14
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Article/Feature