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Transient Receptor Potential Calcium Channels In Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis And Invasiveness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,018.00
Summary
Calcium is a highly regulated signal used by cells to control processes such as growth and division, cell death and motility. Calcium channels let calcium into the cells, and specific calcium channel types are overexpressed in cancers, including those of the prostate and breast. In this research, we will assess the role of specific calcium permeable channels known as TRPs in breast cancer and the consequences of their inhibition on breast cancer cell growth and survival.
The use of ecstasy and similar stimulant drugs is increasing in Australia and globally. Ecstasy can cause death within hours of ingestion but this occurs only in a small number of users. In contrast, there is recent compelling evidence that a large proportion of users of this drug develop significant and irreversible brain damage due to its use. This latter toxicity is insidious in that it may not become evident to users as impaired brain function until years after their drug use. As a result of ....The use of ecstasy and similar stimulant drugs is increasing in Australia and globally. Ecstasy can cause death within hours of ingestion but this occurs only in a small number of users. In contrast, there is recent compelling evidence that a large proportion of users of this drug develop significant and irreversible brain damage due to its use. This latter toxicity is insidious in that it may not become evident to users as impaired brain function until years after their drug use. As a result of the emerging scientific evidence, The National Institute of Drug Abuse in the USA has recognised the major adverse health impact of these drugs in a recent inititative. The brain has a blood brain barrier to stop toxic substances entering, but we postulate that this is damaged by the immediate effects of ecstasy. This allows acces of toxic breakdown products from the drug to enter the brain and cause the long term damage. If we understand the biological mechanisms which link the immediate and long term effects of ecstasy, we should be in a position to design strategies or therapies which limit its harmful effects. The purpose of this project is to 1. establish if the blood brain barrier is damaged by ecstasy 2. identify environmental factors which contribute to the severity of the toxic effects. We believe that an understanding of these events and the development of evidence based rational treatments for these toxicities is essential: 1 in the short term, to prevent injury and death from these drugs,and 2 in the long term, to prevent a potential major public health problem from neurodegenerative deficits that may be magnified as users age. We believe that our group has the ideal mix of expertise and state of the art methods to make a significant advance in the understanding these problems.Read moreRead less
Inositol Polyphosphate 1-phosphatase, A Novel Anti-hypertrophic Factor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,750.00
Summary
Growth of the heart muscle cells occurs after heart attack and in people with high blood pressure or who suffer from diseases such as diabetes. Such growth leads eventually to the development of heart failure, a major cause of death and disability in western societies. We have identified a novel inhibitor of this growth, an enzyme that destroys a signalling intermediate called inositol(1,4)bisphosphate (or IP2). We now need to define how reduction in IP2 reduces growth and whether it provides a ....Growth of the heart muscle cells occurs after heart attack and in people with high blood pressure or who suffer from diseases such as diabetes. Such growth leads eventually to the development of heart failure, a major cause of death and disability in western societies. We have identified a novel inhibitor of this growth, an enzyme that destroys a signalling intermediate called inositol(1,4)bisphosphate (or IP2). We now need to define how reduction in IP2 reduces growth and whether it provides a useful target for therapy.Read moreRead less
Molecular Investigations Of The Neuroprotective Activity Of Estrogen, Phytoestrogens, And Phytosterols
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$270,872.00
Summary
Estrogen protects women from heart and brain disease but more women will spend over a third of their lives in the postmenopausal state, which is characterized by reduced estrogen levels. Many studies suggest that estrogen-like compounds produced by plants may provide health benefits and alleviate the symptoms of menopause. We investigate the protective effects of such compounds in nerve cells, to address the unmet need for safe and effective prevention and treatment of neurological diseases.
Agonists And Antagonists Of The Human Complement C3a Receptor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,250.00
Summary
Many serious inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, septic shock, lung shock, heart disease, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, are poorly controlled with currently available drugs. There is a great deal of evidence that naturally occuring Complement proteins in human blood are involved in exacerbating these and many other human diseases, yet there are no good drugs available to counteract their effects. One of the most important complement proteins is known as C3a. It is called an anaphyla ....Many serious inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, septic shock, lung shock, heart disease, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, are poorly controlled with currently available drugs. There is a great deal of evidence that naturally occuring Complement proteins in human blood are involved in exacerbating these and many other human diseases, yet there are no good drugs available to counteract their effects. One of the most important complement proteins is known as C3a. It is called an anaphylatoxin and is thought to be a pivotal component of the complement system synthesized by the human body early on in the development of inflammatory and immune diseases. New compounds that could stimulate or block the activity of C3a are expected : (a) To lead us to a better understanding of how C3a binds to its receptors on immune cells and its role in the immune response to infection and injury, and (b) To enable the rapid development of an entirely new class of drugs for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. No Complement-based drugs are yet available. It is not yet possible to examine detailed structures of the receptors on cells that interact with complement proteins. However it is possible to determine and analyse three dimensional structures of small molecules that can bind to human immune cells, and mimic or block effects of human C3a on cells, rat tissues, and in whole rats. We will identify and improve such small molecules by optimising their binding to immune cells, by tailoring them to selectively block or mimic just the effects of C3a, and by making them pharmacologically stable for administration (preferably by mouth) to rats (and humans). We will then test them in rats for potential future development into a completely new type of anti-inflammatory drug, one that treats inflammatory disease processes rather than just the symptoms like most current antiinflammatory drugs.Read moreRead less
Development Of Iron Chelators For The Treatment Of Friedreichs Ataxia And The Role Of Frataxin In Iron Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,987.00
Summary
Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is a neuro- and cardio-degenerative disease where there is an accumulation of toxic Fe in the mitochondrion. Excitingly, work from our current NHMRC grant showed iron plays a significant role in FA pathology. Importantly, we developed new drugs (Fe chelators) which rescue the cardiac pathology of FA in an animal model. Studies will now assess if our drugs prevent the neurodegeneration of FA in another animal model. This work could lead to novel therapies for FA.
Calcium acts as a signal to control cell processes important in cancer. The entry of calcium into the cell is regulated by calcium channels and we have found some channels are over-expressed in breast cancer. Altering the expression and activity of these calcium channels is a possible therapeutic approach for cancer. We will determine the reasons and consequences of alterations of calcium channels in breast cancer and whether they are viable anti-cancer therapies and biomarkers.
Protease Activated Receptor 2 : A New Drug Target For Inflammatory Diseases And Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$739,434.00
Summary
A new class of proteins (Protease Activated Receptors) has been found on the surfaces of many different types of cells. They are believed to be natural sensors that respond to traces of degradative enzymes called proteases. This project will create and evaluate new drugs for one of these receptors thought to regulate inflammatory diseases (e.g. arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, pancreatitis) and cancers, while providing a better understanding of a new mechanism of immune defence.
Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1): Pharmacological And Molecular Insights Into Its Role In Brain Protection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$293,229.00
Summary
At present, there are no effective therapies for reducing brain damage which can occur after acute brain insults including birth asphyxia. This project aims to study whether increasing a naturally occurring protective protein (HIF) in the brain can minimize brain damage in a model of perinatal brain injury. We plan to validate HIF as a novel therapeutic target for reduce brain injury and promote brain repair processes.