Characterisation Of Emerging New Signaling Networks That Underlie COPD Phenotypes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$696,966.00
Summary
Incurable diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are becoming increasingly prevalent in Australia’s aging population and new therapies are urgently needed. We have discovered a possible cause of severe emphysema and developed a novel method to image functional changes in the diseased lung. Using advanced molecular and imaging techniques we are now probing for ways to turn this discovery into effective treatments for this fatal disease.
Targeting Macrophage Subtypes As A Strategy For Chronic Inflammatory Lung Disease Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$660,471.00
Summary
Researchers in Melbourne have discovered a possible cause of severe emphysema. Using disease models, patients’ samples and advanced genetic techniques they are now searching for ways to turn this discovery into effective treatments for this disease which is currently fatal and incurable.
Transition From Childhood To Adult Asthma: Predicting Persistent And Adult-onset Asthma In Young Adults In The Raine Longitudinal Birth Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,018,496.00
Summary
While many children grow out of their asthma a significant number continue to have asthma in later life. The Raine community birth cohort has followed newborn infants from birth and has contributed to our understanding of how asthma develops throughout childhood. The proposed project aims to assess those factors that contribute to the persistence of asthma throughout childhood in into early adult life in the as well as investigate the predictors of adult onset asthma at 23 years of age.
Asthma is a National Health Priority in Australia. This project follows the major international study of asthma and allergic diseases in adults. We will re-examine people who have taken part in previous studies in Melbourne. The project also surveys people of the same age currently living in the same area. Participants complete a short postal questionnaire. In the follow-up group, responders complete a more extensive questionnaire and come to our laboratory for clinical assessments.
Targeting Oxidant-dependent Mechanisms That Drive COPD And Its Co-morbidities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$741,343.00
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that is the 4th leading cause of death worldwide. There is currently no effective therapy to treat people with COPD, which costs the Australian community over $8.8 billion/year. Much of the disease burden and health care costs in COPD is associated with the management of its comorbidities (i.e other chronic medical conditions such as heart disease). This project will develop novel therapies to treat COPD and its comorbidities.
Novel Pharmacological Strategies To Treat Cognitive Dysfunction In COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$872,455.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major incurable global health burden and is the 4th largest cause of death worldwide. Up to 60% of COPD patients suffer from cognitive dysfunction (i.e. a brain disorder which affects learning, memory, attention) which often leads to dementia. The reason for this is unknown so the aim of this study is to determine why people with COPD suffer from mental disorders then develop novel treatments to treat these disorders in COPD patients.
Targeting Oxidant-dependent Pathways To Improve Stroke Outcomes In COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,069,574.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major incurable global health burden and is the 4th largest cause of death worldwide. Patients with COPD are at increased risk for stroke and this is even higher in the weeks following a lung viral infection. The reason for this is unknown so the aim of this study is to determine why people with COPD are at increased risk for stroke and then develop novel treatments to prevent or reduce stroke in COPD patients.
G-CSF: A Pathogenic Effector In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease And Its Comorbidities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,241,551.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an incurable lung disease that is a huge global health burden, and new therapies are urgently needed. We have recently discovered a possible cause of COPD. This single factor also appears to drive other associated medical problems that are the biggest contributors to patient deterioration. Using advanced genetics, biochemistry and molecular methods we are searching for ways to turn our discovery into effective treatments for this fatal disease.
Lung cancer remains the biggest cause of cancer related deaths and chronic smoking is the major risk factor. We have recently demonstrated that a protein termed SAA contributes to damaging inflammation in chronic smokers that develop emphysema through activation of a receptor called FPR2. We will determine whether naturally derived products termed pro-resolving mediators that target this same FPR2 receptor will prove to be a novel and effective treatment for lung cancer.
Altering Macrophage Phenotype For The Treatment Of Chronic Airway Disease And Lung Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$904,556.00
Summary
The aim of this proposal is to identify mechanisms through which the Src family kinase Hck promotes innate immune cell-dependent, chronic lung inflammation and lung cancer development. Our preliminary data suggest that excessive Hck activity provides a molecular mechanism to skew macrophage polarization towards an alternatively activated, M2-like phenotype associated with chronic airways disease, and the tumour promoting microenvironment.