Cytokine-driven Allergic Inflammation: Characterization Of Two Isoform-specific Modes Of IL-3 Receptor Activation And Investigation Of New Receptor-associated Signalling Partners.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,716.00
Summary
In asthma, the symptoms are caused by an allergic reaction in the lung orchestrated by immune cells which produce small proteins called cytokines thus stimulating inflammatory cell production. The cytokine IL-3 is critical for the production of basophils which have an important role in the inflammation. The project will investigate the molecular details of how the IL-3 binds to its receptor and stimulates basophil production and reveal new targets for controlling inflammation in asthma.
Understanding Cell Signalling As A Basis For New Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$863,910.00
Summary
This fellowship will capitalise on my extensive expertise in determining the three-dimensional atomic structures of proteins to uncover fundamental biological mechanisms in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease as a basis for discovering new drugs to combat these devastating diseases.
The blood system is made up of different types of blood cells (red cells, white cells, platelets etc). The correct number of each type of cell is controlled by chemical messengers called cytokines. Because overactive cytokine signalling can lead to inflammatory disease and leukemia it is tightly controlled by the other molecules in the body. This project aims to determine the exact mechanism whereby this is achieved with the aim of developing therapies to treat inflammatory disease and leukemia.
A number of Leukemias, lymphomas and other blood malignancies are caused by mutations in a protein called JAK (Janus Kinase). To combat this human cells produce a protein that inhibits JAK (called SOCS). We aim to study how this process works and to mimic SOCS with a drug in order to treat leukemia.