KConFaB - A CONSORTIUM FOR RESEARCH ON FAMILIAL BREAST CANCER
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,624,711.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common disease of women. In families with an inherited form of breast cancer, nearly half the women in every generation can develop the disease. The aim of this Australia-wide study is to collect clinical, epidemiological and genetic data on approximately 700 of these severely-affected families. This national resource will be of great value for researchers who want to identify and characterize the genetic and life-style factors that affect the onset and progression of t ....Breast cancer is the most common disease of women. In families with an inherited form of breast cancer, nearly half the women in every generation can develop the disease. The aim of this Australia-wide study is to collect clinical, epidemiological and genetic data on approximately 700 of these severely-affected families. This national resource will be of great value for researchers who want to identify and characterize the genetic and life-style factors that affect the onset and progression of the disease. The data emerging from the study will lead to more accurate genetic counselling, better surveillance and, ultimately, better methods to prevent and treat the disease in families who inherit a predisposition to the disease.Read moreRead less
Collaborative Ovarian, Prostate And Breast Gene-environment Study (COGS)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,383.00
Summary
The EU-COGS application has arisen from genome wide scans that identify common genetic variants associated with breast, ovarian and prostate cancer risk. Our studies contributed 50% of DNA samples to the prostate cancer genome wide scan. COGS will now measure these variants in a large number of cases and controls from an international consortium of studies to test whether genetic risks are modified by other genes or lifestyle factors. This will better define genetic risks and identify men at inc ....The EU-COGS application has arisen from genome wide scans that identify common genetic variants associated with breast, ovarian and prostate cancer risk. Our studies contributed 50% of DNA samples to the prostate cancer genome wide scan. COGS will now measure these variants in a large number of cases and controls from an international consortium of studies to test whether genetic risks are modified by other genes or lifestyle factors. This will better define genetic risks and identify men at increased risk who should be the focus of appropriate screening and prevention strategies. Australian participation in the prostate cancer genome wide scan helped to identify a number of genetic variants associated with prostate cancer risk. The aim of EU-COGS, which needs large numbers of samples with epidemiological, tumour pathology and clinical information, is to determine whether these genetic variants act singly or together and the extent to which lifestyle and environmental factors can modify the genetic risk. Our contribution of >10% of the total DNA samples to COGS will enable us to understand how such genetic risks can be modified in the Australian environmental context.Read moreRead less
KConFab - The Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium For Research Into Familial Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,176,975.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease of women. In families with an inherited form of breast cancer, nearly half the women in every generation can develop the disease. The aim of this Australasian-wide study is to complete collection of clinical, epidemiological and genetic data on 1,600 of these severely-affected families. The national resource is, and will continue to be, of great value for researchers who want to identify and characterize the genetic and life style factors that a ....Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease of women. In families with an inherited form of breast cancer, nearly half the women in every generation can develop the disease. The aim of this Australasian-wide study is to complete collection of clinical, epidemiological and genetic data on 1,600 of these severely-affected families. The national resource is, and will continue to be, of great value for researchers who want to identify and characterize the genetic and life style factors that affect onset and progression of the disease.Read moreRead less
Breast cancer affects approximately one in ten women and is therefore a major health problem. In order to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disease, it is critical to understand the molecular defects which contribute to disease initiation and progression. Over the last twenty years significant progress has been made in this regard, however there still remain a considerable number of unanswered questions. For example, it is not yet clear which are the most critical molecules ....Breast cancer affects approximately one in ten women and is therefore a major health problem. In order to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disease, it is critical to understand the molecular defects which contribute to disease initiation and progression. Over the last twenty years significant progress has been made in this regard, however there still remain a considerable number of unanswered questions. For example, it is not yet clear which are the most critical molecules contributing to this disease and thus which are the best targets for therapeutic intervention. In this proposal, we aim to study two molecules. The first is called BRCA1 and is particularly important in inherited susceptibility to breast cancer. The second is called PML and, although originally described as a leukaemia-associated gene, it has since been implicated in a number of cancers. Specifically, we aim to investigate the possibility that PML and BRCA1 work together to protect against cancer and that they do this by regulating the ends of chromosomes, that is, the telomeres.Read moreRead less
Genetic Analysis Of Type 2 Diabetes In Indigenous Australian Pedigrees.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$502,500.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is a major world health problem. With 300 million people expected to be affected worldwide by 2025 it is a major economic burden. It is a leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, heart attacks, strokes and amputations. Over 7% of the general Australian population have type 2 diabetes, whilst up to 30% of the population in some indigenous communities are affected by this condition. Very few Australians have not been touched in some way by the shadow of diabetes. The precise cau ....Type 2 diabetes is a major world health problem. With 300 million people expected to be affected worldwide by 2025 it is a major economic burden. It is a leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, heart attacks, strokes and amputations. Over 7% of the general Australian population have type 2 diabetes, whilst up to 30% of the population in some indigenous communities are affected by this condition. Very few Australians have not been touched in some way by the shadow of diabetes. The precise cause of diabetes is unknown, however we do know that it tends to run in families, indicating that inherited tendency is important. This research program will find genes which cause diabetes by searching for them in indigenous Australian pedigrees in which many of the family members are affected by diabetes. Finding the genes which cause diabetes will have significant impact in at least three major ways. Firstly, it will increase our understanding of the disease process. Secondly, it will be possible to develop tests to identify people at risk of diabetes at a very early stage so that therapy can be introduced and complications averted. Thirdly, it will be possible to develop new and more effective approaches for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less