Whole Body Vibration For Osteoporosis: Shaking Up Our Treatment Options
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$961,017.00
Summary
Our aim is to examine the ability of vibration alone and in combination with osteoporosis drugs to reduce hip fracture in postmenopausal women. In Australia, 1 in 2 women >60yrs, will sustain an osteoporotic fracture. Only drugs notably decrease fracture; however none are entirely effective and some patients don’t respond. Whole body vibration has emerged as a potentially effective therapy. A combination of vibration and drugs may enhance the effects of both and revolutionise treatment.
Why Is The Bone Marrow A “hot-spot” For Myeloma Plasma Cell Metastasis: Are There Gremlins In The System?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,979.00
Summary
Most cancer patients die because their cancer spreads from a primary site to other tissues in the body. Once escaping the primary site, 70% of all tumours will spread to bone. This raises the question, why is bone a preferred destination for cancer cells? We provide evidence that Gremlin1, made by non-cancer cells within bone, is a key protein that supports cancer growth. This study will examine whether inhibiting Gremlin1 is a potential therapy to inhibit cancer spreading to bone.
KLK4 Is A Master Regulator Of Tumour Microenvironment Remodelling In Prostate Cancer And Bone Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,305.00
Summary
The current biomarker for prostate cancer, PSA, belongs to a large family of related proteins called KLK enzymes. We have evidence that one of these enzymes, KLK4, regulates many different pathways involved in tumour spreading especially to bones. This project will determine the specific components involved with a view to finding better biomarkers of tumour spread and bone metastasis and designing better treatments for these aspects of the disease.