About Professor Ranjeny Thomas
Professor Thomas' research is focused on the study of the biology and clinical use of human dendritic cells in autoimmune disease. It has
explored basic mechanisms of immunity and dendritic cell function in autoimmune disease.
Professor Thomas is a graduate of the University of Western Australia. She received her MBBS in 1984, and then trained in Perth as a
rheumatologist. She commenced a research fellowship with Peter Lipsky at Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas in 1990, where she
first identified and characterised human circulating dendritic cell precursors. Professor Thomas is now Professor of Rheumatology at
University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, consultant Rheumatologist at Princess Alexandra Hospital
and fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
Her research is focussed on the study of autoimmune disease and restoration of tolerance. Through this work, she developed and tested the
first rheumatoid arthritis vaccine. She has also contributed major insights into the pathogenesis of spondyloarthropathy and autoimmune
diabetes, which results in the development of disease biomarkers and innovative immunotherapies.
