Investigating The Role Of Mutant P53 And MCL-1 In The Sustained Growth Of MYC Lymphomas And Strategies For Targeted Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$616,940.00
Summary
A large number of human cancers have abnormal expression of a protein called MYC, leading to rapid growth. We found that when another protein called MCL-1 was inactivated, the lymphomas regressed. Importantly, mutations in the tumour suppressor gene called p53 are frequently found in cancer cells and we noticed that this could reduce the dependency on MCL-1. We aim to investigate this further in this grant proposal, in part using a novel drug that targets MCL-1.
Exploring The Role Of The Bcl-2 Family In Haematopoiesis And Haematopoietic Malignancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,980.00
Summary
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma comprise the majority of blood cancers and are both disease in which the cell death pathway plays a vital role in both the development of the cancer cell and the resistance to chemotherapy. This project aims to examine the mechanisms of cancer in these tumours focussing on lymphoid cancers, and examine the role of new treatments targeting this pathway.
Learning The Mechanisms Of Programmed Cell Death And Tumour Suppression To Develop Novel Cancer Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$863,910.00
Summary
Our bodies prevent the development of cancer through tumour suppressive processes, which also affect the outcome of cancer therapy. Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is one such process, and defects in apoptosis promote cancer development and impair the response of tumour cells to anti-cancer therapies. My laboratory uses molecular biology and cell biology approaches to investigate the mechanisms of cell death and tumour suppression, partnering with pharma to develop novel cancer therapies.
Structural Investigations Of The Bax And Bak Cell Death Apparatus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,509.00
Summary
Programmed cell death is a process by which the body keeps rogue cells in check. Cancer cells adapt to avoid this process and thus evade this important defence mechanism. This project seeks to understand the machinery that controls programmed cell death at the molecular level. It will provide the atomic details of how this machinery is regulated and how it functions to induce cell death. These insights will provide new avenues for targeting this machinery for a new generation of cancer therapeut ....Programmed cell death is a process by which the body keeps rogue cells in check. Cancer cells adapt to avoid this process and thus evade this important defence mechanism. This project seeks to understand the machinery that controls programmed cell death at the molecular level. It will provide the atomic details of how this machinery is regulated and how it functions to induce cell death. These insights will provide new avenues for targeting this machinery for a new generation of cancer therapeutics.Read moreRead less
The Axis Of Bcl-2, Plasmacytoid DCs And Lupus As A Basis For Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$712,172.00
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects 1 in 1000 Australians, mostly women. Here the immune system goes awry and makes antibodies against the body’s own components including the body’s DNA. This leads to damage to many parts of the body including kidneys, joints, brain and heart. It is incurable. A particular immune cell controls the development of this disease and we have found this cell is selectively killed by an inexpensive drug, which we hope will be a better way of treating SLE.
Examining The Contribution Of Mutant DNMT3a In The Development And Sustained Growth Of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$820,880.00
Summary
Experimental models of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) have been valuable tools for studying this cancer. Recent analysis of human cancer genomes identified novel mutated gene products implicated in AML. To study the involvement of these genes in the development and sustained growth of AML, we will generate new experimental models that express the mutated forms of these newly described genes. These studies will assist in the development of improved treatments for patients with AML.