Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase 1 In POMC Neurons Controls Glucose Homeostasis And Body Weight
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,499.00
Summary
The brain plays a critical role in body weight gain by balancing appetite-inducing and appetite-suppressing signals. An imbalance in this process causes obesity, promotes diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this research is to identify how appetite-suppressing brain signals are maintained as a method to prevent obesity progression.
Manipulating Store-operated Ca2+ Entry To Improve Muscle Function In Dystrophy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$516,163.00
Summary
Muscle function is regulated in a complex manner by calcium and is impaired in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Changes in calcium regulation will be investigated in DMD patients and in an animal model using a novel approach. We will use a combination of novel experimental approaches to manipulate muscles in dystrophic mice and test for improvement in function. Results will determine the viability of a potential treatment.
Is The Role Of IL6 In Metabolism Dependent On Its Cellular Origin?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$714,061.00
Summary
Interleukin-6 is a protein secreted from many cells in the body. For over 10 years, a great deal of research has been undertaken to determine if this protein is "good" or "bad" for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. We have evidence that IL-6 is both good and bad depending upon which cell produces it. We intend to fully explore this notion. This is most important to clarify the confusion amongst the field and because drugs that target the IL-6 receptor complex are in clinical development f ....Interleukin-6 is a protein secreted from many cells in the body. For over 10 years, a great deal of research has been undertaken to determine if this protein is "good" or "bad" for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. We have evidence that IL-6 is both good and bad depending upon which cell produces it. We intend to fully explore this notion. This is most important to clarify the confusion amongst the field and because drugs that target the IL-6 receptor complex are in clinical development for type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less
Type 2 diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions across the world and is a huge burden in health care costs. We know it is a multifaceted disease with many symptoms, one of which is a reduction in insulin secretion. This proposal sets out to determine the mechanisms of insulin secretion from healthy tissue and what goes wrong in disease.
The Role Of Seipin In Adipocyte Development And Lipid Droplet Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,258.00
Summary
The prevalence of obesity and its related disorders has reached an alarming level in Australia and other developed countries. Obesity is characterized by the accumulation of fully-differentiated adipocytes loaded with lipid droplets (LDs). We aim to characterize seipin, which regulate both lipid droplet formation and adipocyte differentiation. Results from our proposed studies may offer novel therapeutic strategies against human obesity.
Carnitine Acetyltransferase (CrAT) Regulates Appetite And Body Weight Through The Melanocortin System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,087.00
Summary
Carnitine metabolism in peripheral tissues, such as muscle, maintains appropriate cellular metabolism and function. Little is known about carnitine metabolism in specific populations of brain cells regulate food intake and appetite. This project aims to understand how carnitine metabolism affect brain cells that regulate food intake and body weight.
Interactions Between H5N1 And The Respiratory Epithelium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,065.00
Summary
This project examines the hypothesis that the severity of H5N1 infection is due to activation of signalling pathways in the lung not activated by human influenza and leads to fluid accumulation in the lungs death of respiratory cells. This study will improve our understanding of influenza infection and identify targets for treatment of H5N1.
NAFLD, NASH And Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Mechanisms & Potential Treatments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$692,992.00
Summary
Liver cancer is one of the most common and fatal cancers world-wide. In developed countries, the past three decades has seen its incidence treble becoming the fastest rising cause of cancer deaths. In some patients liver cancer seems to be caused by obesity. The reason why some obese patients get liver cancer and others do not is unknown. In addition, there are few treatment options. In these studies we will research what causes liver cancer in obesity and test two new potential therapies.
Investigating Hippo Signalling As A Novel Cause Of Muscle Disease, And As A Target For New Interventions To Combat Frailty
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,509.00
Summary
We will explore the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in muscle development, repair and remodelling. We propose that this little-known pathway which affects organ development, is key for maintaining healthy muscles, and is affected in muscle wasting. Using gene therapy tools to alter this pathway in models of disease, we intend to clarify the role of Hippo signaling in muscle, and establish whether the pathway can be manipulated to treat physical frailty caused by muscle wasting.
Failure-to-progress In Human Labour Results From A Profound Electrical Negativity Of The Uterine Cells: Targeting The Ion Channels Involved
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,541.00
Summary
The incidence of failure to progress in labour has increased in recent years, being linked to the rise in obesity. The result is a significant escalation in the rate of delivery by Caesarean Section (CS) which increases the risk of serious complications during subsequent pregnancies. We have identified dysfunctional systems associated with poor uterine contraction. We now aim to determine the mechanisms underlying these dysfunctional systems to lay the foundations for better therapeutics.