Interleukin 11 And Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor: Important Regulators Of Embryo Implantation And Placentation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$346,117.00
Summary
Infertility, spontaneous abortion and pre-eclampsia are major clinical problems. Interleukin (IL)-11 and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) are critical for embryo implantation in mice but their roles in women are unknown. I will define their roles in the establishment of pregnancy and provide new critical information on their potential as targets for diagnostic and therapeutic tools for infertility and major diseases associated with pregnancy.
Disovery Of New Airway Epithelial Genes Regulating Allergic Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,934.00
Summary
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs that affects over 10% of all Australians. A number of drugs are currently available for the treatment of asthma, but there are many people whose asthma does not respond well to treatment. We have identified 2 genes, aP2 and mal1, that may be important in the development of asthma. Drugs targeted against these genes may be useful in the treatment of asthma. In this project, we aim to understand how aP2 and mal1 contribute to disease development.
Regulation Of Cytokine Signalling: Structure And Biophysical Characterisation Of Key Protiens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,872.00
Summary
Cells are informed when to grow, divide, migrate or die by protein molecules called cytokines. The cellular response to cytokines needs to be carefully regulated or else inflammation and other disorders will result. The SOCS (Suppressors Of Cytokine Signalling) family of proteins are a major regulator of cytokine signalling. This work will examine the structure and interactions of this important protein class.
T Helper Cytokines In Immunity And Organ-specific Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,946.00
Summary
The overall goal of these studies is to identify mechanisms underlying the effects of cytokines on T cell-mediated immunity, how defects in these processes can result in organ specific autoimmune disease, and whether exploiting these mechanisms may result in improved therapies for individuals with autoimmune diseases. The proposed aims build on my previous work on interleukin-21 and interleukin-21-producing T helper cells in both immunity and autoimmunity.
The Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms In The Initaition Of Human Labour
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,904.00
Summary
Being born too early is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and accounts for the majority of neonatal deaths. The aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in premature birth with a view to future development of clinically useful interventions to reduce the high rates of mortality and long-term disability.
Investigating CD4+ T Helper Cell Differentiation During Blood-stage Plasmodium Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Some infections tend to afflict us only once, e.g. chickenpox, because our bodies develop immunity to these microbes relatively easily. In contrast, it takes many infections to develop immunity to the malaria parasite, because our immune systems seem to respond inefficiently to it. My work will improve our understanding of how the immune system is poorly activated during malaria, and may provide new ideas for boosting the immune system in response to malaria or indeed other infections.