Potent Small Molecule Modulators Of A Complement Protein In Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$689,428.00
Summary
We have invented powerful new compounds that act on the cell surface and regulate inflammation. We plan to (1) fine-tune our small molecules for optimal activity on different kinds of immune cells; (2) understand mechanisms by which the compounds affect cellular inflammatory responses; (3) evaluate the compounds as potential treatments in rodent models of inflammatory diseases implicated from cell studies. This study is anticipated to lead to clinical studies for a new kind of drug treatment.
Downsizing A Human Protein To Modulate Inflammatory Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$516,793.00
Summary
We have discovered how to downsize a human protein to very small molecules with the same activities and potencies. Small changes enable the compounds to powerfully block the actions of the protein. These small molecules are very stable in blood, whereas the protein deactivates in minutes. This project will develop the small molecules into experimental drugs and test them in human cells and proteins, and in rats to evaluate their potential for treating human inflammatory diseases.
Chronic pain is a significant global health, economic and social problem, with the annual economic burden estimated at approximately $40 billion in Australia. My research will focus on the discovery and structure-function of venom peptides (trivially called toxins) from cone snails and spiders plus other Australian venomous creatures that modulate sodium and calcium channels in peripheral pain and associated pathways and optimise these for clinical development.
Novel Approaches To Control Mast Cell Function In Allergic Inflammation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$723,447.00
Summary
Allergic disorders are a major health problem. Driven by mast cells, the underlying inflammation is exacerbated by the ‘?c family’ of cytokines acting on the surface of these cells. We aim to characterise the ‘mast cell-?c axis’ with the view to developing new therapies based on our ?c receptors blocking antibodies. This path of discovery-mechanism-translation seeks to recapitulate our previous success of taking a related antibody to Phase II clinical trials to treat patients with leukaemia.