Prof A Suhrbier is the Group Leader of the Inflammation Biology Group at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. The group focuses at the applied end of inflammation research and development and will be involved in the identification and development of new interventions and diagnostics for inflammatory diseases and cancer, often in collaboration with the biotech industry.
Developing Novel Agents To Prevent Tumour Recurrence In Glioblastoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,089,561.00
Summary
Glioblastoma is a form of brain cancer that is currently incurable. We have discovered that switching-off an enzyme called KDM4 (using 'KDM4 inhibitors') improves chemotherapy outcomes with new drugs also discovered in our laboratory. This project will examine a novel drug combination treatment for glioblastoma patients and generate evidence for initiation of clinical trials. This could initiate a novel therapy that could significantly extend patients' lives.
Novel Precision-based Treatments For Biliary Tract Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$644,241.00
Summary
Advanced biliary tract cancer has a median life-expectancy of ~12 months. The relatively low incidence of the disease in Australia requires a collaborative team-based approach to drive progress. To achieve this, we have established a multidisciplinary research team based in Australia, Thailand and Japan. Here, we will now build on our exciting preliminary discoveries to test new patient-specific treatments, and develop methods to efficiently identify patients who may respond to immunotherapy.
Isoform Selective PI3 Kinase Inhibitors For Cancer, Thrombosis And Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,473.00
Summary
Inhibitors of the PI3 kinase family of enzymes have potential as therapeutics in diseases such as cancer, thrombosis and inflammatory disease. In this project the investigators will develop a new class of PI3 kinase inhibitors they have discovered, optimizing their pharmaceutical properties and evaluating them in models of disease. The aim is to develop a candidate for human clinical studies.
The Use Of Real-World Evidence To Support Regulatory And Reimbursement Decisions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$91,538.00
Summary
Traditionally, medicines are studied extensively in clinical trials before they are widely available. More recently, some medicines have been allowed to enter the market without complete data on their benefits and risks. This means that these issues can only be studied once a medicine is on the market and used in routine clinical practice; this is referred to as real-world evidence. This research evaluates if this evidence is sufficient to prove that a medicine is safe and that it works
We recently discovered a new way to treat melanoma by inhibiting a protein called MDM4 that is important in promoting tumor growth in ~2/3 of melanomas. In this proposal, we will extend this work to see if anti-MDM4 therapy is effective in laboratory models that are more relevant to patients and in combination with other melanoma therapies. We will also explore additional ways of inhibiting MDM4 that may make anti-MDM4 therapy even more potent.
The blood-brain barrier is a major impediment to the treatment of brain tumours because it prevents most anti-cancer drugs from entering the brain, and brain tumour, from the bloodstream. This proposal examines new approaches to open the blood-brain barrier to allow the use of existing highly potent anti-cancer drugs as brain cancer therapies. Successful outcomes of this work could lead to substantial improvements in the outcomes for brain tumour patients.
Copper-ionophores As A Treatment For Prostate Cancer?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,154.00
Summary
The overarching aim of this project is to evaluate a potential therapy for prostate cancer, which targets a distinct characteristic of the disease 'elevated copper'. Our copper-based drugs in the laboratory selectively destroy cancerous prostate cells without harming normal cells. We will verify whether these drugs work in the body where the environment is more complex. Proof of this principle will open up a new area of research and provide a novel therapeutic approach for prostate cancer.
Apoptosis And Stem/Progenitor Cells In The Development And Treatment Of Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$21,809,604.00
Summary
To improve cancer therapy, we are studying two cancer hallmarks. The first is excessive cell survival. To combat this, we are developing drugs with commercial partners that directly activate the cell's death machinery. The second hallmark is inexorable proliferation, akin to that of stem cells, which can generate entire tissues, as we showed for the breast. ‘Rogue’ stem-like cells may initiate certain cancers. We hope to advance cancer therapy by identifying such cells and drugs that kill them.