Translation Of MRS For Determining Human Pathology Into The Clinic: Acceptance Testing For Breast, Prostate And Barrett'
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), for many organs, provides the pathological diagnosis with an accuracy approaching 100%. In the case of breast lesions, it discriminates accurately between benign and malignant and, for overt carcinomas, predicts the status of the regional lymph nodes without the need to biopsy the node. For some lesions, such as Barrett’s oesophagus, distinction between dysplasia’s of no immediate concern to the patient and those apparently committed to early progression to ....Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), for many organs, provides the pathological diagnosis with an accuracy approaching 100%. In the case of breast lesions, it discriminates accurately between benign and malignant and, for overt carcinomas, predicts the status of the regional lymph nodes without the need to biopsy the node. For some lesions, such as Barrett’s oesophagus, distinction between dysplasia’s of no immediate concern to the patient and those apparently committed to early progression to clinical cancer, can be made by the MRS method. A statistical classification method, (SCS) has been developed whereby there are now mathematical classifiers available for the testing acceptance of the method in the clinical setting. Acceptance testing of MRS technology, with the mathematical classifiers integrated in the automated software, for the pathology and prognosis from a biopsy specimen in: · Breast clinic (Dr Malycha, Royal Adelaide) for both pathology and nodal involvement from fine needle aspiration biopsy · Gastrointestinal clinic (Dr Falk. Strathfield Private) for Barrett’s oesophagus · Urology clinic (Dr Katelaris, Sydney Adventist Hospital) for prostate.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Sensitive Point Of Care Diagnostic Assay For Troponin I
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,650.00
Summary
This research aims to develop a diagnostic for immediate monitoring of patients presenting with chest pain, with the presumption of heart attack. The novel diagnostic platform will enable the estimation of a key indicator of heart muscle damage to be performed within a ten to fifteen minute window. This will aid speedier diagnosis and propoer triage of patients presenting with chest pain.
Development Of Novel Reagents For The Point-of-care(field) Diagnosis &differentiation Of The Malaria Parasites, Plasmodi
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$117,000.00
Summary
Malaria is a major global health problem. 500 million people become infected with malaria parasites every year and 2-3 million people die each year from the disease. Rapid diagnosis of the disease is needed to allow correct treatment protocols. Increasingly protein-based immunochromatographic tests are being employed for the diagnosis of malaria as they offer significant advantages over classical thick smear tests, which require trained personnel and laboratory facilities. We propose to develop ....Malaria is a major global health problem. 500 million people become infected with malaria parasites every year and 2-3 million people die each year from the disease. Rapid diagnosis of the disease is needed to allow correct treatment protocols. Increasingly protein-based immunochromatographic tests are being employed for the diagnosis of malaria as they offer significant advantages over classical thick smear tests, which require trained personnel and laboratory facilities. We propose to develop a protein-based malaria diagnostic that has the ability to distinguish the two major human pathogens, P.falciparum and P. vivax.Read moreRead less
The Diagnosis, Biomarker Identification And Measurement Of Drug Efficacy In Mental Illness And Neurological Conditions.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$119,050.00
Summary
Globally, 2 billion people suffer from a neuropsychiatric illness. The cost is more than US$2 trillion a year. Hampering early intervention is the current lack of definitive, quantitative techniques for diagnosis and measurement of treatment efficacy. This research will determine whether the disease fingerprints produced by a new technique, EVestG, are diagnostically unique (to schizophrenia, depression and Parkinson's disease) and sensitive to disease progression and treatment response.
Improving First Trimester Screening By Combining Rapid MF-PCR Of PAP Smears With Nuchal Ultrasound Scanning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$206,809.00
Summary
Genetic defects are the major cause of embryonic and foetal death as well as being responsible for a large proportion of childhood disabilities. Although many are detected by the ~50,000 prenatal tests currently performed annually in Australia, these methods are only offered to high risk mothers because they are invasive (~1% risk of miscarriage), and-or expensive. A rapid, low cost, less invasive and safer alternative prenatal diagnostic method such as PAP smears that could be offered to all mo ....Genetic defects are the major cause of embryonic and foetal death as well as being responsible for a large proportion of childhood disabilities. Although many are detected by the ~50,000 prenatal tests currently performed annually in Australia, these methods are only offered to high risk mothers because they are invasive (~1% risk of miscarriage), and-or expensive. A rapid, low cost, less invasive and safer alternative prenatal diagnostic method such as PAP smears that could be offered to all mothers regardless of risk is therefore of immense value both to mothers and to the health care system. This proposal enhances first trimester screening by improving prenatal diagnosis from PAP smears. Although normally taken to detect cancer, these smears contain significant numbers of foetal cells. We will investigate: the best way and time to obtain these cells, the best way to remove the cells from any contamination, improvements in genetic diagnosis of these cells using a technique known as MF-PCR which is rapidly revolutionising conventional prenatal diagnosis. By automating these procedures, they will become less expensive and more accessible to all mothers regardless of risk. We will also compare these procedures with alternative first trimester screening techniques such as nuchal translucency to determine the value of both tests singly and in combination. This research should provide a safe, reliable and accurate method allowing inexpensive prenatal screening to be available for all pregnancies. General screening programmes using this new test, particularly if combined with nuchal translucency programmes, would result in a dramatic reduction in affected babies with major implications to families and the health care system.Read moreRead less
Characterisation Of A Novel Direct Electrochemical Chip As A Biosensor And Tool For Studying Redox-sensitive Proteins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$144,500.00
Summary
Biosensors use biomolecules to detect a chemical event. They are becoming important for the rapid and reliable measurement of the concentrations of molecules in fluids. In human medicine they will be of great use to general practitioners and patients for instantaneous read outs of concentrations of many different biological molecules. How well a biosensor responds depends on the method in which the biomolecule is immobilised to a surface and the signal detected. We have made a significant advanc ....Biosensors use biomolecules to detect a chemical event. They are becoming important for the rapid and reliable measurement of the concentrations of molecules in fluids. In human medicine they will be of great use to general practitioners and patients for instantaneous read outs of concentrations of many different biological molecules. How well a biosensor responds depends on the method in which the biomolecule is immobilised to a surface and the signal detected. We have made a significant advance in biosensing capabilities using a recombinant protein (thioredoxin) and demonstrated the improvement that is possible by (i) immobilising the protein in a highly oriented way and (ii) using a sensitive electrical signal to monitor the response. Here we will undertake more comprehensive testing by extending the number of proteins to include the 4 major classes of redox-sensitive biomolecules (proteins) in the body. This will enable us to establish the broad application of our methods and substantially improve our ability to commercialize our discoveries.Read moreRead less
Development And Prototype Manufacture Of A High-throughput CD4 T-cell Test For Management Of HIV/AIDS Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$163,150.00
Summary
CD4 T-cells are the target of HIV-AIDS infection, and monitoring of HIV-infected patients for these cells is an essential part of disease management. Current CD4 testing methods rely on expensive equipment and reagents and high levels of training, or else they have low throughput that limits their use. This project will develop a standard laboratory assay method for testing CD4 T-cells, increasing the access of patients to CD4 testing, and to HIV therapy, worldwide.
Development Of A Novel Biosensor Using Magnetically Amplified Luminescence For The Early Detection Of Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,500.00
Summary
Cancer is often not detected until it has invaded surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Current treatment is then often ineffective, and prognosis poor. Early detection of cancer is therefore essential for improved disease management. Such methods must be cheap, non-invasive, and rapid with high sensitivity and specificity. We are investigating a new biosensor technology that satisfies these criteria. This method uses magnetically amplified luminescence for the detection of low levels ....Cancer is often not detected until it has invaded surrounding tissues and spread to other organs. Current treatment is then often ineffective, and prognosis poor. Early detection of cancer is therefore essential for improved disease management. Such methods must be cheap, non-invasive, and rapid with high sensitivity and specificity. We are investigating a new biosensor technology that satisfies these criteria. This method uses magnetically amplified luminescence for the detection of low levels of cancer cells in clinical samples (urine, faeces, blood, biopsy), using telomerase as a marker.Read moreRead less