Associations Between Periodontal Disease And Cardiovascular Surrogate Endpoints In An Adult Indigenous Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,242.00
Summary
The relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk markers, both of which are high among the Indigenous Australian population, is established. This study seeks to explore the prevalence of periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk markers among this population, and to determine if implementation of a periodontal intervention leads to improved cardiovascular risk outcomes. There may be benefit in applying this model to other areas of Indigenous health promotion and research.
The Influence Of Gender And Steroid Hormones On Cerebrovascular NADPH Oxidase During Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,974.00
Summary
My research addresses several major questions regarding the regulation of brain blood flow and mechanisms that may contribute to stroke. There is confusion as to whether giving menopausal women hormone replacement worsens the effect of having a stroke. I propose that female hormones may lower blood flow to the brain after menopause and therefore cause more damage to the brain after stroke.
Host-pathogen Interaction: The Battle For Supremacy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,014.00
Summary
This grant will provide salary support for Dr Rowena Bull. Dr Bull's research is focused on understanding the disease process between the human host and the infecting virus. The outcomes of this research will be used to find novel ways to fight viral infections with vaccines and drugs.
Structural And Drug Discovery Studies Of Medically Important Protein Complexes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,577.00
Summary
My research is focused on structural studies of medically important biological systems, where specific protein complex formation contributes to human illnesses. I use X-ray crystallography to visualize the whole complex at atomic resolution as well as to determine whether binding partners have undergone changes in shape upon complex formation. This structural information then helps me in drug design with goals to either disrupt or modulate the complex.
Monitoring And Improving Hepatitis C Health Outcomes Among People With Hepatitis C
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
In Australia, hepatitis C is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, costing $9.2 billion to the health care system. In the next year, side-effect prone hepatitis C therapies will be replaced with simple, tolerable, interferon-free therapies (cure >90%) that can reverse liver disease progression. My goal is to further develop my established research program in population-health related to HCV epidemiology, and therapeutic strategies, with a specific focus on PWID.
Protein Homeostasis, Protein Aggregation And Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
There is a desperate need for biomarkers and therapeutics for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Mutations in a growing list of genes are implicated as a cause of MND, although the way these cause MND remains a mystery. I aim to build a uniquely positioned research team that approaches this problem from a protein centric view and incorporating strategic collaborative efforts to the understanding of the pathogenesis of MND; the longterm goal of which is translation to biomarkers and therapeutics.
Investigating Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeabilization During Programmed Cell Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,065.00
Summary
Cancer cells often contain defects which prevent their death. To kill cancer cells we must either reset or bypass these defects. Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria is a critical event in cell death and proteins that block this event render cells resistant to many cancer therapies. My research will determine how cytochrome c release occurs, how this event is regulated and how to kill cancer cells in which cytochrome c release is blocked.
Optimising Treatment As Prevention Strategies For Hepatitis C And HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$471,809.00
Summary
New evidence shows how hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV transmission can be reduced dramatically through timely treatment initiation - treatment as prevention (TasP). TasP has re-focused attention on early HCV and HIV detection and treatment. Through observational studies, randomised control trials and the development of innovative surveillance systems, this fellowship will inform ways to maximise the potential of HCV and HIV prevention responses in Australia and internationally in this new TasP era.