Kaileen Button
Research Assistant
Research interests:
My research addresses the development and evaluation of novel cancer vaccines targeting EBV-associated malignancies. I am particularly interested in understanding how viruses such as EBV evade immune responses to establish infection in immune and non-immune cells and ultimately drive cancer development. Building on my experience in preclinical vaccine immunogenicity and protection studies, I aim to investigate how next-generation EBV vaccines can prevent cancer progression and metastasis.
Background:
My interest in immunology began during my undergraduate studies at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington, where I became fascinated by vaccine-mediated immunity and the importance of generating targeted, balanced immune responses. I later completed a Master’s in Clinical Immunology, investigating humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 immunogens, followed by a PhD exploring how distinct T cell populations enhance mucosal humoral immunity to influenza after immunisation with subunit peptide vaccines. Drawing on my knowledge of respiratory viruses and vaccine immunity, I am eager to contribute to the development of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines targeting EBV.