Dr Robert Bischof - Researcher Profile

Biography

Dr Rob Bischof obtained his PhD at the The University of Melbourne in 1994. He then undertook post-doctoral studies in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology (Melbourne) and at the Centre for Inflammation Research at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he developed an interest in the role of cytokines in inflammatory diseases. In 1998, together with Professor Meeusen,Dr Bischof obtained NH&MRC support to investigate the inflammatory mechanisms of allergic disease and developed a novel large animal model of experimental allergic asthma. He was involved in and directed a number of commercially funded projects, and in 2004 he was awarded an NH&MRC Industry Fellowship to develop novel approaches for the treatment of allergic asthma. In 2006 he relocated to Monash University and currently heads the Allergy and Asthma group. A major focus for the Allergy and Asthma group is to gain a better understanding of the key immunological and physiological mechanisms driving disease pathogenesis, as well as developing new targeted strategies for the treatment of allergies and asthma.

Qualifications

PHD - AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Institution: University of Melbourne

Year awarded: 1994

BACHELOR OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Institution: University of Melbourne

Year awarded: 1989

Publications

Journal Articles

Melville, J., Bischof, R., Meeusen, E.N.T., Westover, A.J., Moss, T.J.M., 2012, Changes in fetal thymic immune cell populations in a sheep model of intrauterine inflammation, Reproductive Sciences [P], vol 19, issue 7, Sage Publications, United States, pp. 740-747.

Van Gramberg, J.L., De Veer, M.J., O'Hehir, R.E., Meeusen, E.N.T., Bischof, R., 2012, Induction of allergic responses to peanut allergen in sheep, PLoS ONE [P], vol 7, issue 12 (Art. No.: e51386), Public Library of Science, USA, pp. 1-6.

Clarke, S.D., Lee, K., Andrews, Z.B., Bischof, R., Fahri, F., Evans, R.G., Clarke, I.J., Henry, B.A., 2012, Postprandial heat production in skeletal muscle is associated with altered mitochondrial function and altered futile calcium cycling, American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology [E], vol 303, issue 10, American Physiological Society, USA, pp. R1071-R1079.

Abeynaike, L., Meeusen, E.N., Bischof, R.J., 2010, An ovine tracheal explant culture model for allergic airway inflammation, Journal of Inflammation [P], vol 7, issue 46, BioMed Central Ltd, UK, USA, The Netherlands, pp. 1-9.

Allen, J.E., Bischof, R., Chang, H.S., Hirota, J.A., Hirst, S.J., Inman, M.D., Mitzner, W., Sutherland, T.E., 2009, Animal models of airway inflammation and airway smooth muscle remodelling in asthma, Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics [P], vol 22, issue 5, Academic Press, UK, pp. 455-465.

Bischof, R., Bourke, J.E., Hirst, S.J., Meeusen, E.N.T., Snibson, K., Van Der Velden, J., 2009, Measurement and impact of remodeling in the lung: airway neovascularization in asthma, Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society [P], vol 6, issue 8, American Thoracic Society, USA, pp. 673-677.

Shaw, R., Pfeffer, A., Bischof, R., 2009, Ovine IgE and its role in immunological protection and disease, Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology [P], vol 132, issue 1, Elsevier BV, The Netherlands, pp. 31-40.

Bischof, R., Snibson, K., Van Der Velden, J., Meeusen, E.N.T., 2008, Immune response to allergens in sheep sensitized to house dust mite, Journal of Inflammation, vol 5, BioMed Central Ltd, UK, USA, The Netherlands, pp. 1-11.

Sansome, G.M., Young, A.R., Meeusen, E.N.T., Bischof, R., 2007, Production of monoclonal antibodies reactive with ovine eosinophils, BMC Immunology, vol 8, issue 1, Biomed Central Ltd, London, England, UK, pp. 1-10.

Snibson, K.J., Bischof, R.J., Koumoundouros, E., McMurtrie, L.S., Cock, M.L., Harding, R., 2006, Altered airway responsiveness in adult sheep born prematurely: effects of allergen exposure, Experimental Lung Research, vol 32, issue 6, Taylor and Francis Ltd, UK, pp. 215-228.

Koumoundouros, E., Bischof, R., Meeusen, E.N.T., Mareels, I.M.Y., Snibson, K.J., 2006, Chronic airway disease: deteriorating pulmonary function in sheep associated with repeated challenges of house dust mite, Experimental Lung Research, vol 32, issue 7, Taylor & Francis Inc, Philadelphia PA USA, pp. 321-330.

Snibson, K.J., Bischof, R.J., Slocombe, R.F., Meeusen, E.N.T., 2005, Airway remodelling and inflammation in sheep lungs after chronic airway challenge with house dust mite, Clinical Experimental Allergy, vol 35, issue 2, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford England, pp. 146-152.

Bischof, R.J., Snibson, K.J., Shaw, R., Meeusen, E.N.T., 2003, Induction of allergic inflammation in the lungs of sensitized sheep after local challenge with house dust mite, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, vol 33, issue 3, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford England, pp. 367-375.

Bischof, R.J., Meeusen, E.N.T., 2002, Cellular kinetics of an allergic-type response in a sheep mammary gland model of inflammation, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, vol 32, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford England, pp. 619-626.

Dunphy, J.L., Barcham, G.J., Bischof, R.J., Young, A.R., Nash, A., Meeusen, E.N.T., 2002, Isolation and characterization of a novel eosinophil-specific galectin released into the lungs in response to allergen challenge, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol 277, issue 17, The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc, Bethesda USA, pp. 14916-14924.

Tatarczuch, L., Bischof, R.J., Philip, C.J., Lee, C., 2002, Phagocytic capacity of leucocytes in sheep mammary secretions following weaning, Journal of Anatomy, vol 201, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford England, pp. 351-361.

Meeusen, E.N.T., Bischof, R.J., Lee, C., 2001, Comparative T-cell responses during pregnancy in large animals and humans, American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, vol 46, issue 2, Blackwell Publishers, Oxon United Kingdom, pp. 169-179.

Dunphy, J.L., Horvath, A.J., Barcham, G.J., Balic, A., Bischof, R., Meeusen, E.N.T., 2001, Isolation, characterisation and expression of mRNAs encoding the ovine CC chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1alpha and -2, Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, vol 82, issue 3-4, Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 153-164.

Bischof, R., Zafiropoulos, D., Hamilton, J.A., Campbell, I.K., 2000, Exacerbation of acute inflammatory arthritis by the colony-stimulating factors CSF-1 and granulocyte macrophage (GM)-CSF: evidence of macrophage infiltration and local proliferation, Clinical and Experimental Immunology, vol 119, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford United Kingdom, pp. 361-367.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Airway delivery of oxytocin: A novel treatment for postpartum haemorrhage.

Supervisors:

Bischof, R (Joint), Mcintosh, M (Joint-co).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Antenatal influences on fetal immune function.

Supervisors:

Moss, T (Main), Bischof, R (Associate), Meeusen, E (Associate).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Functional roles of the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, in a sheep model of asthma.

Supervisors:

Bischof, R (Main), Piedrafita, D (Associate).

Completed Supervision

Student:

Ibrahim, J.

Program of Study:

Developing new approaches for the treatment of asthma. 2011.

Supervisors:

Bischof, R (Main).

Student:

Khan Ahmad Liravi, B.

Program of Study:

Development of an Enzyme linked (ELISA) for the detection of ovine IL-13. 2011.

Supervisors:

Bischof, R (Joint-Co), Piedrafita, D (Joint).