Professor Chris Parish received his undergraduate training at the University of Melbourne and then gained a PhD degree in immunology at The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne.  He is currently a Professorial Fellow in the Division of Immunology and Genetics, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University.  During the last 35 years Professor Parish has investigated various aspects of the immune system.  During the early 1970's he was the first person to demonstrate that cell-mediated immunity and antibody formation are mutually antagonistic responses.  This phenomenon, termed immune deviation, underpins the Th1/Th2 paradigm in immunology.  He is currently attempting to harness immune deviation to produce novel anti-cancer vaccines.  Since the late 1970's Professor Parish has also been interested in the role that complex carbohydrates play in cell adhesion and cell migration.  These studies have formed the theoretical basis for the development of several carbohydrate-based drugs that inhibit inflammation, tumour metastasis and angiogenesis.  In addition, Professor Parish’s laboratory has developed a number of important immunological techniques, such as fluorescent dyes (eg, CFSE) for monitoring lymphocyte migration and proliferation.  In 2005 Prof Parish was awarded the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research in recognition of his scientific achievements.
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