Investigation Of The Mechanisms Underpinning HSPA2 Dysfunction In The Spermatozoa Of Infertile Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,563.00
Summary
Male infertility is an extremely common condition, that is frequently associated with the production of sperm that have lost their ability to recognize the egg. We have shown that this defect is frequently associated with a deficiency in a specific protein (HSPA2). By determining the mechanisms underpinning the loss of HSPA2, this project will provide powerful insights into the causes of male infertility, with practical implications for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this condition.
Identification Of Testis-specific Markers Of Male Infertility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$617,008.00
Summary
Infertility affects 1 in 20 men, and carries major health and financial burdens. Patient management is difficult because there are no tests to monitor testicular function. While sperm number is normally used, their absence in the ejaculate provides no information whether sperm are present in the testis suitable for IVF, or if sperm production could be ‘kick-started’ with hormones. Our goal is to identify new markers of testis function in blood, and then use them to help treat infertile men.
Determing Whether Breast Stem Cells Mediate The Risk Of Developing Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$433,894.00
Summary
Whilst the outcomes for women with breast cancer have improved significantly, the incidence of breast cancer continues to increase. Research needs to focus on prevention now to try to stop the increase. Apart from age, our reproductive behaviour is the largest risk factor for breast cancer. If a woman does not bear children, or has them after 35 years of age, she is at 25-50% increased risk of breast cancer. We would like to determine whether the breast stem cells play a role in this and why.
Women are born with a limited supply of eggs and are unable to make new eggs after birth. Because of this, the number and health of eggs established within the ovary early in life influence the length of time for which a female will be fertile, her age at menopause, and the health of her offspring. This project aims to shed some light on the mechanisms that control egg supply and reproductive longevity in women by investigating the role of the cell death protein Bid within the ovary.
Katanin P80 Is A Key Regulator Of Microtubule Dynamics And Male Fertility.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,756.00
Summary
Male fertility is a complex process requiring the co-ordinated activation of thousands of gene products. It is not surprising therefore that 1 in 15 Australian men are infertile. This project will explore an essential pathways for sperm production, specifically related to sperm shaping and motility. This work may ultimately have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility, but also for pathology in tissues will similar cellular structures.
Manipulating Ovarian Follicle - Oocyte Communication To Control Reproductive Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,424.00
Summary
Ovarian follicles provide the environment supporting oocyte (egg) development. Communication between cells of the follicle and oocytes modulate this environment. We discovered new cell surface molecules that receive the signals from the oocyte and we identified a class of drug compounds that can modulate this signalling. This discovery offers a unique potential to therapeutically intervene in this signalling process and both improve infertility therapies and develop new non-steroidal contracepti ....Ovarian follicles provide the environment supporting oocyte (egg) development. Communication between cells of the follicle and oocytes modulate this environment. We discovered new cell surface molecules that receive the signals from the oocyte and we identified a class of drug compounds that can modulate this signalling. This discovery offers a unique potential to therapeutically intervene in this signalling process and both improve infertility therapies and develop new non-steroidal contraceptives.Read moreRead less
Modulation Of Telomere Length And Subtelomeric DNA Methylation In Response To Oxidative Stress In The Male Germ Line; Implications For Tumorigenesis In The Offspring
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,684.00
Summary
This research project is designed to elucidate how the quality of a father’s spermatozoa can impact upon the health and wellbeing of his children. We hypothesize that factors, such as infertility, heavy smoking or age create a state of oxidative stress in the testes and that this stress influences the genetic structure of spermatozoa in such a way that the incidence of spontaneous mutations and susceptibility-to-cancer are significantly elevated in the offspring.
EGF Peptide Signalling Improves Oocyte Maturation And Quality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$586,891.00
Summary
Infertility is common and although IVF is widely accepted, the procedure is expensive and is associated with health risks. Using laboratory animals, we have developed significant new insights into mechanisms regulating egg quality. These insights have allowed us to develop a new approach to infertility treatment - crucially, one that eliminates the need for ovarian hormone therapy used in IVF. This project will investigate the basic mechanisms underlying our new approach to enable safe clinical ....Infertility is common and although IVF is widely accepted, the procedure is expensive and is associated with health risks. Using laboratory animals, we have developed significant new insights into mechanisms regulating egg quality. These insights have allowed us to develop a new approach to infertility treatment - crucially, one that eliminates the need for ovarian hormone therapy used in IVF. This project will investigate the basic mechanisms underlying our new approach to enable safe clinical implementation.Read moreRead less
Metabolic And Molecular Basis Of Embryo Signalling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$409,836.00
Summary
Cells in the body are powered by mitochondria that essentially generate the energy required for development. This grant will determine how the environment affects the mitochondria in the developing embryo and determine the impacts to the embryo and pregnancy if a mitochondria is partially shut down.
Decidual-trophoblast Interactions Critical For Optimal Pregnancy Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,927.00
Summary
This proposal seeks to identify the critical maternal and embryonic placental factors that regulate the formation of a healthy placenta and thus a healthy pregnancy and baby. Currently there is no way of identifying whether the placenta is forming adequately. The proposed studies are a necessary first step in identifying therapeutic targets for diseases associated with a poorly formed placenta, such as preeclampsia.