The Importance Of RUNX3 In Preventing Gastrointestinal Diseases And Tumour Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,322.00
Summary
Stomach cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It is estimated that in 2010, more than 1 million people will die of stomach cancer with an increase of 19%. Studies have revealed that RUNX3 has the ability to suppress the growth of stomach cancer. However the role of RUNX3 in preventing metastasis is yet unknown. Therefore, an understanding of the factors that govern metastasis will inform the design of effective therapies to prevent mortality which is high for this disease.
The Characterisation Of The Functional Regions Of Sarcomeric Alpha-actinins And To Determine How The Absence Of Alpha-actinin-3 Influences Human Skeletal Muscle Function And Metabolism.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,313.00
Summary
We are studying a muscle protein called a-actinin-3. This protein is absent in approximately one billion people worldwide. A-actinin-3 is associated with athletic performance. Our goal is to explore how the absence of a-actinin-3 influences human skeletal muscle function and metabolism. We will be studying a-actinin-3 deficiency using a mouse model.
Cardiomyopathy is the term used to describe diseases that affect the heart, in particular the muscle fibres which contract with each heartbeat. Dysfunction of these muscle cells is a significant cause of cardiovascular disease that can affect people of all ages. Recent studies have demonstrated that many cardiomyopathies may have an underlying genetic basis. This project will identify genes that are involved in heart disease and aid the development of improved treatment programs for these disord ....Cardiomyopathy is the term used to describe diseases that affect the heart, in particular the muscle fibres which contract with each heartbeat. Dysfunction of these muscle cells is a significant cause of cardiovascular disease that can affect people of all ages. Recent studies have demonstrated that many cardiomyopathies may have an underlying genetic basis. This project will identify genes that are involved in heart disease and aid the development of improved treatment programs for these disorders.Read moreRead less
Genetic And Functional Analysis Of Brain Malformations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,327.00
Summary
Disorders of early brain development are recognised as a significant cause of illness and disability in children. Unfortunately, the causes of these conditions are poorly understood, and treatment options are limited. It has become apparent that many of these conditions have an underlying genetic basis. This project will identify genes that regulate brain development and aid the development of improved treatment programs for brain and mind disorders.
Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification(LAMP): A Novel Tool For The Diagnosis Of Mixed Malaria Infections In Elimination Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,877.00
Summary
The malaria elimination agenda will require the development of novel, field applicable diagnostic tools to detect asymptomatic carriers of P.falciparum and non-falciparum malaria infections. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has been demonstrated to be a novel, sensitive, specific nucleic acid amplification technique. My project aims to optimise LAMP into a high-throughput field applicable molecular diagnostic tool capable of diagnosing malaria in elimination settings
Exploiting Genetic Analysis To Predict Response And To Discover Novel Molecular Targeted Therapies For Rectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,871.00
Summary
Bowel cancer is a significant health burden in Australia. Currently it is difficult to predict which bowel cancer will shrink with standard therapy (chemoradiotherapy). Similarly, patients whose cancer remain the same or increase in size during treatment, there are no other new options available to them. In this research, I intend to find a model that could predict patient’s treatment pathway and identify alternative therapy for patients who did not respond to standard therapy.
Novel Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Aberrant Cell Cycle Regulation In Pancreatic Cancer And Development Of Robust Tissue-based Assay For Biomarkers Of Therapeutic Responsiveness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$139,177.00
Summary
The overall aim of my research to assess noel therapeutic strategies in pancreatic cancer. Using new technology, more in depth understanding of pancreatic cancers (PC) is allowing better characterisation of these tumour into distinct molecular phenotypes. Some of these phenotypes are showing response to specific therapies in experimental models. Hence, there is an urgent need to to define these responsive phenotypes to stratify patients to appropriate therapeutic regimens.
The Development Of A Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay For The Detection Of Strongyloides Stercoralis In The Stool.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$127,494.00
Summary
A new test will be developed for the detection of the worm, Strongyloides stercoralis in the stool. S. stercoralis infects millions of people worldwide and occurs in the north of Australia. It can occasionally cause a ‘hyperinfection’ with fatal consequences. The test is based on the DNA detection method, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), which can be performed using simple equipment. The aim will be to make this test as easy possible to perform and to evaluate its effectiveness.
Discovering New Biomarkers In Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,714.00
Summary
Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer death with increasing rates and a high mortality. The project will develop new methods to predict liver cancer risk and outcomes using circulating samples rather than invasive biopsies. Our data shows that tissue and cells shed specific blebs into the circulation and these can contain unique information about the tissue of origin. We propose a series of experiments to show that these circulating samples are able to predict risk and outcomes with liver
The Molecular Epidemiology Of Malaria Transmission In The Solomon Islands
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$69,098.00
Summary
The recent dramatic reduction in malaria burden has prompted a shift from control to elimination and aims to interrupt malaria transmission itself. Achieving this requires the development of set tools that directly target transmission. Little is known about the epidemiology of malaria transmission in the SW Pacific. The goal of this PhD project is to determine the dynamics of malaria transmission in Solomon Islands using a combination of large epidemiological studies and novel molecular assays.