The Alternate Day Fasting Diet In Adolescents With Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,007,545.00
Summary
One in four Australian adolescents is overweight or obese. While short-term weight loss is possible, keeping the weight off long term is difficult. We will test whether the alternate day fasting diet is effective, safe and acceptable to adolescents. We will undertake a trial involving adolescents aged 13-17 years who are affected by obesity: they will be randomised to receive either the alternate day fasting diet, or a standard weight control diet.
Obesity In The Elderly: Impact Of Weight Loss Therapy On Physiology And Function.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,213.00
Summary
The aim of this study is to assess the safety, tolerability, weight-loss efficacy, change in lean body mass and impact of cognition of three approaches to treat obesity in the elderly. We will compare dietary advice, an energy reduced diet and a very low calorie diet. All three groups will also have an exercise program. This study will be of major assistance in developing management guidelines for obesity in the elderly, which will likely be an emerging public health issue.
Improving Weight Loss By Intermittent Use Of Very Low Energy Diet: The TANGO Diet Trial (Temporary Phases Of Accelerated Weight Loss For Noticeably Greater Outcomes)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$660,736.00
Summary
Very low energy diet (VLED) is being increasingly used for the treatment of obesity, but the resultant weight loss is usually transient, partly because it induces powerful adaptive responses that inhibit weight loss and promote regain. We have shown that 'taking a break from dieting' for 2 weeks reduces these adaptive responses. In this project we will thus test whether weight loss outcomes with VLED can be improved via intermittent use, where periods on the VLED are alternated with 'breaks'.
Therapeutic Targeting Of MYCN Oncoprotein Stability In Neuroblastoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$590,206.00
Summary
A high level of MYCN protein is a major indicator of aggressive neuroblastoma (NB) but unfortunately there have been many barriers to the design of targeted therapies. We have identified a protein called PA2G4 which is a cofactor for MYCN in promoting cancer cell growth. We have developed a compound which inhibits PA2G4 and MYCN protein levels and reduces tumour growth. We will examine how PA2G4 cause aggressive tumour characteristics and test new methods to block PA2G4.
There is an unmet medical need to develop new therapies that are safer and potentially allow the treatment of a broader range of cancers. Inhibiting the immune checkpoints TIGIT and CD96 represents an opportunity that may parallel and indeed complement the activity and impact of other lymphocyte checkpoint inhibitors in human cancer (eg. PD1/PD-L1). While testing these as targets in mice we will also learn more about their ligand CD155 and their expression in human tumors.
Applying Quantitative Immunology To The Analysis Of Complex Genetic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$864,596.00
Summary
The immune response of each individual varies. For some, the response invoked by foreign challenge is weak, leading to a lifetime of difficulty with infection. For others, the response is stronger, yielding excellent immunity, but opening the potential for overactive responses to self-material and autoimmune disease. We have a new theory for how the health of our immune system can be measured and we aim to apply it to understand the genesis of the many different forms of human immune diseases.
Engineered Cell And Exosome Therapy For Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$838,490.00
Summary
Diseases affecting the blood vessels in the lungs cause early death and the currently available treatments are not curative. We will take advantage of the latest developments in the understanding of the molecular basis of these diseases to design and test a new treatment approach using cells and cell-derived products as a therapy.
Overcoming Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Mediated Resistance To BRAF Inhibitors In Metastatic Melanoma, Colorectal And Lung Cancers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$574,958.00
Summary
The drug Vemurafenib results in good responses in melanoma patients. However, patients become resistant to treatment. We have identified specific receptors that can cause Vemurafenib resistance, which can be overcome by combination treatment with drugs to these receptors. We will assess melanoma patient samples for expression of these receptors which will be highly beneficial for selecting combination treatments to prevent drug resistance and ensure better prolonged outcomes.
Identification Of Microbiome Control Of Weight Loss During Dietary Intervention In Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$644,667.00
Summary
We will develop diagnostic tests that enable prediction of the optimal weight loss diet for patients. Obesity is a growing problem in Australia and weight loss is of proven health benefit. Dieting is capable of delivering useful weight loss but long term success rates are poor. The variable success rates are linked to differences in gut microbiota. Diagnostic tests based on the gut microbiota in stool samples will allow identification of the optimal weight loss diet for individuals.
Dynamics And Mechanisms Of Immune Complex-mediated Skin Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,467.00
Summary
Type III hypersensitivity underlies a number of common autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. These diseases are caused by the deposition of immune complexes (IC) and the accumulation of neutrophils within small blood vessels. We will use real time imaging to dissect in space and time the recruitment of neutrophils and IC deposition during type III hypersensitivity reactions in order to better understand the pathogenesis of these conditions.