Communication skills training for oncology health care professionals working with culturally and linguistically diverse patients. The project will develop and evaluate two novel training programs designed to equip health professionals to communicate with cancer patients from different cultures. It is expected that the programs will improve trainees’ ability to communicate in a culturally sensitive way.
Structural and pharmaceutical studies on a novel human protein, MIC-1. Cancer and obesity are two of the main health problems facing Australia, as reflected by the National Research Priority: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. This project will develop new diagnostic tools for early cancer detection and prognosis using the protein, MIC-1. MIC-1 is responsible for cachexia, a wasting disorder responsible for 25% of cancer deaths, which has no effective therapy. MIC-1 and antibodies neutrali ....Structural and pharmaceutical studies on a novel human protein, MIC-1. Cancer and obesity are two of the main health problems facing Australia, as reflected by the National Research Priority: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. This project will develop new diagnostic tools for early cancer detection and prognosis using the protein, MIC-1. MIC-1 is responsible for cachexia, a wasting disorder responsible for 25% of cancer deaths, which has no effective therapy. MIC-1 and antibodies neutralising MIC-1 may provide therapeutic agents to control cancer cachexia and severe obesity. The project will optimise these molecules for therapeutic uses. These diagnostic and therapeutic tools will form the basis of a spin-off company for commercialisation. Read moreRead less
New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and manageme ....New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and management that can reduce risk and improve patient survival.Read moreRead less
Encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticles for the hyperthermia treatment of liver cancer. This project will provide targeted hyperthermia treatment for liver cancer. The treatment will be non systemic and therefore, unlike radiotherapy and chemotherapy, will cause minimal collateral damage to healthy tissue within the patient. Liver cancer is one of the commoner forms of cancer in humans with estimates of up to 2 million patients per year being affected worldwide. Currently 95% of these patients w ....Encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticles for the hyperthermia treatment of liver cancer. This project will provide targeted hyperthermia treatment for liver cancer. The treatment will be non systemic and therefore, unlike radiotherapy and chemotherapy, will cause minimal collateral damage to healthy tissue within the patient. Liver cancer is one of the commoner forms of cancer in humans with estimates of up to 2 million patients per year being affected worldwide. Currently 95% of these patients will die from the condition. This project will lead to improvements in health outcomes for liver cancer patients. As a consequence of the worldwide demand for this treatment, and related equipment, the project will generate foreign exchange earnings through exports and new job opportunities in the clever end of small business enterprise.Read moreRead less
Targeted development of dual action antitumour and antiangiogenic agents using differential and functional proteomics. There is an enormous need to develop more effective and less toxic therapeutic approaches to reduce the social and economic burden of cancer. The recent identification of small molecules that can act by both destroying cancer cells and the blood vessels that carry nutrients to them has provided a unique opportunity to define the pathways involved in the action of these agents in ....Targeted development of dual action antitumour and antiangiogenic agents using differential and functional proteomics. There is an enormous need to develop more effective and less toxic therapeutic approaches to reduce the social and economic burden of cancer. The recent identification of small molecules that can act by both destroying cancer cells and the blood vessels that carry nutrients to them has provided a unique opportunity to define the pathways involved in the action of these agents in order to develop more potent drug analogues. Development of these molecules will involve a collaborative and multidisciplinary link with our industry partner and the use of frontier technologies that may lead to improved health and economic outcomes for Australia. Read moreRead less
Specific gene inhibition through functional genomics and high through-put small molecule screening. This project will utilise functional genomic technologies in an attempt to identify genes in childhood neuroblastoma as potential candidates for the future development of molecular-targeted gene therapy. By screening large 'libraries' of chemical compounds, we aim to identify compounds with the ability to specifically inhibit these gene targets. This project will therefore define novel molecular t ....Specific gene inhibition through functional genomics and high through-put small molecule screening. This project will utilise functional genomic technologies in an attempt to identify genes in childhood neuroblastoma as potential candidates for the future development of molecular-targeted gene therapy. By screening large 'libraries' of chemical compounds, we aim to identify compounds with the ability to specifically inhibit these gene targets. This project will therefore define novel molecular targets and possibly facilitate the future development of new therapeutic approaches to treating neuroblastoma. In addition, the project will develop know-how that can be utilised by both the industry partner and the broader research community and will introduce to Australian science novel techniques and skills. Read moreRead less