Effective Immunotherapy For HPV Associated Cervical Cancer Precursor Lesions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,640.00
Summary
Vaccines to prevent cervical cancer are currently being developed. These will be used to prevent infection with the causal virus, papillomavirus. However, there are very many people world wide who already have papillomavirus infection, which could turn into cancer at any point over the next 30 years. Therefore, there is a need for a vaccine that could be given along with the preventative vaccine, which would treat existing infections. This study addresses the characteristics of the immune respon ....Vaccines to prevent cervical cancer are currently being developed. These will be used to prevent infection with the causal virus, papillomavirus. However, there are very many people world wide who already have papillomavirus infection, which could turn into cancer at any point over the next 30 years. Therefore, there is a need for a vaccine that could be given along with the preventative vaccine, which would treat existing infections. This study addresses the characteristics of the immune response required to treat existing papillomavirus infections, since this is not currently known.Read moreRead less
Optimising Cervical Screening After The Introduction Of HPV Vaccination In Australia: Modelling Of Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,089.00
Summary
This research project will aid decision-making about how best to perform cervical screening in Australia after the introduction of vaccination against the human papillomavirus (or HPV). The project will use computer simulation techniques to explore different scenarios for vaccination and screening and to determine the optimal approach. This project involves a group of international collaborators with expertise in a number of areas including cancer epidemiology, screening for cancer, and computer ....This research project will aid decision-making about how best to perform cervical screening in Australia after the introduction of vaccination against the human papillomavirus (or HPV). The project will use computer simulation techniques to explore different scenarios for vaccination and screening and to determine the optimal approach. This project involves a group of international collaborators with expertise in a number of areas including cancer epidemiology, screening for cancer, and computer simulation methods. HPV is the virus responsible for the development of cervical cancer, and clinical trials have demonstrated that HPV vaccines administered to adoloescent girls are very effective at preventing disease that might have led to cancer in the future. However, Australia currently has a very effective Pap smear screening program, and in the first phase after the introduction of vaccination it will be important for women to continue being screened as usual. In the long term, HPV vaccination is expected to reduce the need for Pap smears. The research will involve a very detailed simulation of how HPV is transmitted in the Australian population, and how this will change after vaccination. The simulation will address questions of importance for any future public HPV vaccination program, such as whether males should be vaccinated as well as females. The simulation will also be used to determine the optimal starting age and frequency of Pap smears in the future. The outcomes of the research will be very important for policy-makers. In the long term, this research will ensure that the best recommendations are formulated for the timing and frequency of Pap smears after HPV vaccination is introduced.Read moreRead less
The Population Impact Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination On Circulating Genotypes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$249,259.00
Summary
Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common. Persistent infection can cause abnormal changes to cervical cells as found on Pap smears and if untreated, over time can develop into cervical cancer. Recently, a vaccine was introduced in Australia for women aged 12-26. To monitor the effectiveness of this vaccine, young women aged 18-22 will be asked to self-collect a sample for HPV detection which will determine if HPV types targeted by vaccine are reducing in prevalence.
Evaluation Of Primary HPV Testing For Cervical Screening In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$701,037.00
Summary
The overall aim of the project is to use simulation modelling to perform a detailed evaluation of new approaches to cervical screening in Australia, taking into account the implementation of the National HPV Vaccination Program. The project involves collaboration between Australian researchers and investigators at the National Cancer Institute USA. We will integrate local and international data to lead the world in understanding how cervical screening should best be performed in the context of H ....The overall aim of the project is to use simulation modelling to perform a detailed evaluation of new approaches to cervical screening in Australia, taking into account the implementation of the National HPV Vaccination Program. The project involves collaboration between Australian researchers and investigators at the National Cancer Institute USA. We will integrate local and international data to lead the world in understanding how cervical screening should best be performed in the context of HPV vaccination.Read moreRead less
Non-viral Vectors For Targeted Delivery Of RNAi Nucleotides To Cervical Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,738.00
Summary
RNA interference (or gene silencing) is a new technique whereby we are able to turn off the expression of a particular gene either temporarily or permanently. Cancer is basically a genetic disease where certain protective genes are lost or cancer-causing genes expressed. Gene silencing holds great promise in the treatment of genetic disorders, infectious diseases and cancer. Cervical cancer is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus and the expression of two cancer-causing genes. Using ....RNA interference (or gene silencing) is a new technique whereby we are able to turn off the expression of a particular gene either temporarily or permanently. Cancer is basically a genetic disease where certain protective genes are lost or cancer-causing genes expressed. Gene silencing holds great promise in the treatment of genetic disorders, infectious diseases and cancer. Cervical cancer is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus and the expression of two cancer-causing genes. Using RNA interference we can turn off the expression of these two genes which results in the death of the cancer cell. We are also able to cure mice of tumours derived from human cervical cancer. The major issue with gene silencing is how to deliver it effectively to patients. Here we are investigating novel nanoparticulate systems to deliver this new gene-inhibiting drugs preferentially to the tumour site.Read moreRead less
Immunoregulatory Immune Responses To A Peripherally Presented Tumour Antigen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$219,750.00
Summary
Tumours express proteins which the body can recognise as foreign. However, the recognition process often goes wrong, leaving the body's defences against infection unable to respond to the tumour. This lack of response may become permanent, and the tumour may then be protected by the immune system. We have a model system, based on cervical cancer, in which we can determine the reasons why tumour tolerance can occur, and explore ways of overcoming the tolerance
RNA interference is a newly discovered means by which we are able to turn off cancer-causing genes with high precision. However, it is difficult to get the drug to every cancer cell. Therefore we are designing and testing new RNA interference molecules that are able to alert the immune system to the presence of the cancer thus causing its elimination. This will prove to be a more effective cancer treatment than current therapies.
Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging In The Diagnosis Of Cervical Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$291,600.00
Summary
In Victoria alone around 500000 Pap smears a year are examined for evidence of cancer of the cervix or conditions that may lead to cancer. This is a time consuming, labour intensive and costly process with a relatively high failure rate. A number of alternative techniques have been explored in the last decade with a view to providing a diagnostic technique that is free of human error, more reliable than the Pap method and easily used. An alternative technique based on using infrared light to pro ....In Victoria alone around 500000 Pap smears a year are examined for evidence of cancer of the cervix or conditions that may lead to cancer. This is a time consuming, labour intensive and costly process with a relatively high failure rate. A number of alternative techniques have been explored in the last decade with a view to providing a diagnostic technique that is free of human error, more reliable than the Pap method and easily used. An alternative technique based on using infrared light to probe smears shows promise in providing such an easily automated reliable method. We, and others have spent a number of years exploring this technique and have solved a number of the problems associated with it. Based on our work in the field and the work of others we now wish to develop a methodology using an infrared micro-imaging spectrometer combined with multivariate statistics that can be used to diagnose cervical cancer and the conditions that lead to cervical cancer.Read moreRead less