Anticalins: Inhalable Biologicals For Severe Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$577,933.00
Summary
This grant aims to develop a new class of medicines called 'anticalins'. Anticalins behave like a successful class of medicines called monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). MAbs are too fragile and large to be inhaled to treat lung disease but anticalins are small and robust. We will be developing an anticalin (PRS-060) which blocks damaging immune reactions in severe asthma. By inhaling PRS-060 we hope to make a new and clinically useful medicine for a common form of poorly-controlled severe asthma.
The project aims to improve cochlear implant performance via integrated gene therapy. A neurotrophin gene cassette will be delivered to cells adjacent to the electrode array using electrical pulses. This drives regeneration of the auditory nerve fibres and considerably improves cochlear implant performance. This study will optimize the therapeutic gene construct and cochlear implant –based gene delivery controller, and undertake an initial clinical trial to evaluate safety and efficacy.
Development Of A Safe Live Genetically Attenuated Blood Stage Malaria Vaccine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$822,191.00
Summary
Malaria presents an enormous global health problem, and also has a significant impact on social and economic development in countries where the disease is endemic. Our project will produce a live genetically-modified vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the form of malaria mostly deadly to humans. Our development plan will include the first ever clinical trials of a malaria vaccine of this kind and will look at vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Cachexia is a major side effect of cancer, resulting in significant muscle wasting, fat loss and organ failure. Up to 80% of cancer patients suffer and 25% succumb to this condition. This significantly affects the treatment regimens of cancer patients and affects their quality of life. We have developed monoclonal antibodies that block and reverse cachexia in preclinical mouse cancer models. Our aims are to humanise the antibody and manufacture it for the first clinical trial in humans.
Development Of Stable Human Antibody Phage Display Libraries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$539,644.00
Summary
Antibodies are blockbuster therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and inflammation. Unfortunately, they often display limited stability which greatly hinders development and production. This project focuses on the construction of large libraries of stable antibodies, thereby streamlining the development of new therapeutics.