Identification And Characterization Of A Novel Tumor Suppressor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$591,997.00
Summary
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with over 380,000 people diagnosed every year. Of these, over 370,000 have non-melanoma skin cancers including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Our laboratory has identified a gene in mice that protects animals from squamous cell cancer. The studies proposed in this grant examine the mechanisms underpinning this protective role and may have important implications for the prevention of skin cancers in humans.
Cloning Of Human NK Cells And Macrophages Carbohydrate Receptors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$489,750.00
Summary
Lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells, are important for the well being of all individuals as these are the cells which fight infection by microorganisms. The lymphocyte gets its information about enviroment and communicates with other cells using molecules on the cell surface. We are examining a group of molecules found on the surface of different lymphocytes which bind different sugars, and also to characterised new cell surface molecules that interact with carbohydrates. These studies ....Lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells, are important for the well being of all individuals as these are the cells which fight infection by microorganisms. The lymphocyte gets its information about enviroment and communicates with other cells using molecules on the cell surface. We are examining a group of molecules found on the surface of different lymphocytes which bind different sugars, and also to characterised new cell surface molecules that interact with carbohydrates. These studies will examine the structure of the the molecules that interact with with sugars, in order to understand how these give messages to the lymphocyte to trigger various functions that these cell perform in the immune response. We will isolate the genes for these and study their function in greater detail. The cell surface carbohydrate receptors represents several different families of molecules, it is highly likely that these have important roles in the immune response. The potential significance of studying these lymphocyte cell surface molecules is in defining the functional properties of these molecules, the results of which will give us novel insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the generation of immune responses, the mechanism of immuno deficiency and autoimmunity.Read moreRead less
Studies in cancer control. As life expectancy in Australia (and throughout the world) continues to rise, so will the burden of cancer escalate. Treating cancer after diagnosis is costly, and in many instances, unsuccessful. Preventive strategies promise to reduce the future cancer burden, yet our knowledge in this arena is limited by the lack of credible research as to what works and what does not. This application addresses this gap directly by conducting research into the control of two cancer ....Studies in cancer control. As life expectancy in Australia (and throughout the world) continues to rise, so will the burden of cancer escalate. Treating cancer after diagnosis is costly, and in many instances, unsuccessful. Preventive strategies promise to reduce the future cancer burden, yet our knowledge in this arena is limited by the lack of credible research as to what works and what does not. This application addresses this gap directly by conducting research into the control of two cancers which exact a growing toll in Australia and elsewhere. The work seeks to identify and understand the causal pathways to cancer, and then use this information to devise evidence-based strategies for cancer control.Read moreRead less
Wounds and burn injuries are frequent injuries which can lead to deformity, disfigurement and loss of movement. The cytoskeleton is integral to the wound healing process and we have shown that a specific cytoskeletal protein, Flightless I (Flii), is an important regulator of wound repair. During the course of this fellowship I plan to further my investigations into the function and regulation of Flii in wounds and aim to develop new therapies for treating wounds and reducing scar formation.
Understanding the potency and role of individual stem cells in the skin using Rainbow technology. To renew itself, the skin and its components rely on the activity of stem cells. This project will define more precisely the role of each individual stem cell by labelling them with a unique colour and following its fate. This project has the potential to change our current view on how the skin maintains and repairs itself.