Development of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer. Both aging and obesity are significant risk factors for cancer and are becoming a burden on the health care budget. The proposed novel cancer therapy will improve current cancer treatments by enhancing their efficacy, thereby reducing the required dose and minimizing side effects. Such an outcome would not only benefit the well being of the individual but would achieve significant health care cost savings.
Long Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Heart Health in Humans. The primary aims of the project is to assess the effect of DHA rich tuna oil on cholesterol carrying lipoproteins and to determine a quicker method in assessing someone's omega-3 status. The expected outcomes include the determination of: 1) the most appropriate blood sample and a rapid test and for evaluating the omega-3 status; 2) the minimum dose of tuna oil required which will not only improve a person's omega-3 statu ....Long Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Heart Health in Humans. The primary aims of the project is to assess the effect of DHA rich tuna oil on cholesterol carrying lipoproteins and to determine a quicker method in assessing someone's omega-3 status. The expected outcomes include the determination of: 1) the most appropriate blood sample and a rapid test and for evaluating the omega-3 status; 2) the minimum dose of tuna oil required which will not only improve a person's omega-3 status but also improve their plasma lipid profile and hence reduce their overall risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD); and 3) the use of the Omega-3 Index by medical practitioners. The significance is the increased knowledge of the health benefits of DHA rich tuna oil and that a new CVD risk marker will be generally accepted.Read moreRead less
Improved methods for quantitation of acute phase proteins in biological samples. Using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence polarisation, we aim to develop improved quantitative analytical methods that are superior to the current clinical assays. The initial targets will be C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid precursor protein (SAP), but the technology should be readily adaptable to other serum proteins. Better assays for CRP and SAP will greatly facilitate improved clinical management ....Improved methods for quantitation of acute phase proteins in biological samples. Using monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence polarisation, we aim to develop improved quantitative analytical methods that are superior to the current clinical assays. The initial targets will be C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid precursor protein (SAP), but the technology should be readily adaptable to other serum proteins. Better assays for CRP and SAP will greatly facilitate improved clinical management of those at risk of heart attack, the single biggest contributor to healthcare costs in Australia. We further aim to adapt this technology to enable "point-of-care" assays that would help medical practitioners, especially in rural areas, to make informed diagnoses immediately.Read moreRead less
Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), a peptide biomarker discovery tool using tissue. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Australia. The newly developed technology of Imaging Mass Spectrometry for peptides in tissue has the potential to discover biomarkers for early diagnosis of cancer. This new technology could avoid a number of cancer deaths and reduce suffering of patients through earlier and better diagnosis.
Interactions of Insulin-like Growth Factors and their Binding Proteins with Vitronectin: a structural basis for antagonist design and development. Tissue Therapies Ltd has shown that a patented combination of three biosynthetic molecules, VitroGroR, can promote tissue repair effectively. This project will use biophysical and biochemical techniques to investigate precisely how these molecules interact, and hence provide a rational basis for future developments and improvements of this exciting n ....Interactions of Insulin-like Growth Factors and their Binding Proteins with Vitronectin: a structural basis for antagonist design and development. Tissue Therapies Ltd has shown that a patented combination of three biosynthetic molecules, VitroGroR, can promote tissue repair effectively. This project will use biophysical and biochemical techniques to investigate precisely how these molecules interact, and hence provide a rational basis for future developments and improvements of this exciting new therapeutic strategy.
Conversely, this information would also facilitate the development of antagonists to VitroGroR complexes would provide novel opportunities to treat diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis that involve excessive production of its component molecules.Read moreRead less
Determining the regulation of vitamin D metabolism. The proposed project will lead to a better understanding of factors that influence the biological function of vitamin D. This will impact in several areas of human health and will provide new avenues for the development of preventative approaches and treatment of cancer. This project is based on the use of 'Frontier Technologies' that will be applied to elucidate basic biological questions.
Reduced Water Consumption in Commercial Malting Processes. The successful outcome for the project will be the production of barley varieties that can be successfully malted with a single steep, rather than the conventional two steeps currently employed. The objective will be achieved through the reduction of cell wall beta-glucan in barley grain. This will result in water savings of around 40%, or 1,500 megalitres per annum, for the Australian malting industry. The 1,500 megalitres saving in ....Reduced Water Consumption in Commercial Malting Processes. The successful outcome for the project will be the production of barley varieties that can be successfully malted with a single steep, rather than the conventional two steeps currently employed. The objective will be achieved through the reduction of cell wall beta-glucan in barley grain. This will result in water savings of around 40%, or 1,500 megalitres per annum, for the Australian malting industry. The 1,500 megalitres saving in water use would be sufficient to support the domestic water consumption of 30,000 people, based upon the use of 140 litres per person per day that was recently achieved in Brisbane.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms controlling enteroendocrine hormone secretion in human duodenum. This project aims to gain a deeper understanding of nutrient sensing pathways present in enteroendocrine cells within the human intestine. These cells control digestive function, blood glucose levels and food intake and are thus critical to digestion. This project will endeavour to be the first to assess the biology of human enteroendocrine cells and will use innovative approaches to deeply assess function from the level ....Mechanisms controlling enteroendocrine hormone secretion in human duodenum. This project aims to gain a deeper understanding of nutrient sensing pathways present in enteroendocrine cells within the human intestine. These cells control digestive function, blood glucose levels and food intake and are thus critical to digestion. This project will endeavour to be the first to assess the biology of human enteroendocrine cells and will use innovative approaches to deeply assess function from the level of the individual to isolated enteroendocrine cells.Read moreRead less
Control of foliar diseases in horticulture using milk components: widening applicability through understanding mechanisms. Fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and botrytis grey mould, have the potential to cause considerable losses in horticultural crops. Chemical fungicides, some of which are broad-spectrum biocides potentially harmful to human health, are applied routinely in disease management. Milk and whey, which can damage powdery mildew fungi, offer alternatives to conventional fungic ....Control of foliar diseases in horticulture using milk components: widening applicability through understanding mechanisms. Fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and botrytis grey mould, have the potential to cause considerable losses in horticultural crops. Chemical fungicides, some of which are broad-spectrum biocides potentially harmful to human health, are applied routinely in disease management. Milk and whey, which can damage powdery mildew fungi, offer alternatives to conventional fungicides. Identification of the components of milk which damage fungi, and their mechanisms of activity, will facilitate the development of environmentally sustainable strategies for management of fungal diseases in Australian horticulture. This will have particular benefits for personnel who regularly apply fungicides in glasshouses.Read moreRead less
Understanding gender differences in pain: Cellular therapies for animal pain. Understanding gender differences in pain: Cellular therapies for animal pain. This project aims to relieve chronic pain in animals and lay the foundations for future human therapies, using molecular assays, cell technologies and immune/hormonal pain generators. Chronic pain affects females more than males. Establishing the fundamental mechanism in pain, the role of immune signalling and molecular mediators will enable ....Understanding gender differences in pain: Cellular therapies for animal pain. Understanding gender differences in pain: Cellular therapies for animal pain. This project aims to relieve chronic pain in animals and lay the foundations for future human therapies, using molecular assays, cell technologies and immune/hormonal pain generators. Chronic pain affects females more than males. Establishing the fundamental mechanism in pain, the role of immune signalling and molecular mediators will enable true pain-modifying treatments that address pivotal triggers in both genders. This project will then use specially selected stem cells separately targeting arthritic male and female pain and demonstrate novel veterinary chronic pain treatments. Expected outcomes are more effective gender-targeted treatments of pain and the realisation of economic value of molecular assays and cell technologies.Read moreRead less