Each year more than one million people in the US alone suffer serious nerve injury significantly impairing quality of life and costing more than US$7 billion. This research will develop nerve conduits based on polymers and the natural constituents of nerve to provide an alternative to the current practice of nerve grafting. It is envisaged that this conduit will provide an effective platform for nerve repair and will expedite the development of regenerative platforms for other neural tissues.
Novel Targeted PEG Nanoparticles For Cancer Treatment And Monitoring
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,979.00
Summary
We will develop novel targeted cancer therapies based on next generation nanoparticles. These particles will deliver highly potent drugs to tumours with less adverse effects to healthy organs. The ability to image the therapeutic can be used to detect diseases at early, potentially curable stages, identify patients likely to respond to certain treatments, and predict response to therapy. Our project has the potential to increase the survival of patients suffering from the most deadly cancer.
Immune-modifying-particle-induced Tregs Induce Remission In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,440.00
Summary
Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Disease is the result of inflammatory monocyte-derived dendritic cells that migrate from the blood into the brain, where they stimulate T cells to attack myelin sheaths around neurons. Our novel therapy, known as immune modulating micro-particles reduces monocyte migration and disease in a mouse model, we hypothesize, by inducing immunosuppressive T regulatory cells that control attacking T cells in MS.
Nanomedicines Immunotargeting: Hitting The Target Or Lost In Translation ?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,042.00
Summary
Nanomedicines are some of the most exciting novel approaches to improving the way we detect, manage and treat cancers. This cross-disciplinary project aims to provide a rigorous understanding of how nanomedicines penetrate solid tumour tissues. To validate in vitro tumour model developed in the project, in vivo studies will be carried out in a mice model. The penetration and distribution of nanomedicines inside tumour tissues after intravenous administration will be determined.