Kidney Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Tubular Development, Repair And Turnover
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$989,141.00
Summary
In Australia, 11.3% of deaths are associated with chronic kidney disease with >$1 billion per annum spent on treating this condition. At present, only dialysis and transplantation are available to treat end stage kidney disease. We have found a kidney stem cell population in both human and mouse that can form new epithelial structures. In this project, we will investigate the normal role played by these kidney stem cells and examine whether they can contribute to kidney regeneration.
Dementias affect a large number of Australians each year with the number of patients expected to triple by 2050. As such, there is need to develop a better model of this debilitating disorder to provide improved treatments. Mesenchymal stem cells, are relatively easy to obtain and grow, and are able to produce the key cell types in the brain. We can use these cells to identify the processes that control the production of brain cells, which will likely provide better treatment of this disease.
How Do Mutations In Autophagy Receptors Cause FTD And ALS?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,966.00
Summary
As cells age the "garbage disposal" process within cells slows down, becoming less functional. In inherited forms of dementia the genes involved often code for damaged proteins that "clog up" the disposal system or directly affect the “garbage men”. These defective garbage men genes include SQSTM1/p62, OPTN, VCP and UBQLN2. We will determine how these defective genes lead to build up of garbage in neuronal cells and how leads to disease.
Self-assembled Hydrogels As A Model For Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,644.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease which currently affects over 340,000 Australians. Often, symptoms of AD are not apparent until the disease is well advanced, limiting chances of successful treatment. In this project, hydrogels made from biocompatible peptides will be used to grow neural cell culture models to study the development of the disease in its early stages. This will help to develop new diagnostic tools for the early detection of AD.
Bioactivated Hierarchical Hydrogels As Zonal Implants For Articular Cartilage Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,161.00
Summary
Cartilage is frequently damaged, but does not repair on its own, and degenerates in osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, current treatments are also not able to regenerate the structure of normal cartilage and fail to restore joint function long-term. Our project, HydroZONES, brings together expertise from 16 partners to tackle this problem and regenerate cartilage with the appropriate structure to help the millions of people worldwide suffering from cartilage problems such as osteoarthritis.
Bacterial Metabolite Mediated Regulation Of The Immune And Metabolic Systems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$303,374.00
Summary
The cellular and molecular events that underpin metabolic syndrome diseases, such as diabetes, fatty liver, etc are poorly understood. However recent advances provide new clues. First, the immune system is intimately connected to metabolism. Second, the gut microbiota, and its metabolites such as acetate and butyrate are also important. These metabolites induce epigenetic changes in cells. We will study how metabolites induce molecular changes epigenetically, and how this controls metabolism.
What Is The Effect Of Alzheimer’s Disease On Eye And Can Ocular Changes Be Used As Biomarker For Alzheimer’s Disease?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$718,002.00
Summary
Visual symptoms are frequent early complaints in Alzheimer’s (AD) patients. Examining eyes can be a simple, specific and inexpensive way to assess and diagnose AD and fill in an urgent need for a viable biomarker. Retina is unique part of central nervous system that can be imaged non-invasively and thus serves as a ‘window to the brain”. Monitoring the eyes will also help prevent negative effects of AD on vision by way of timely intervention, in addition to providing mechanistic insights in AD.
The Role Of Oligodendrocytes In Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$625,292.00
Summary
Dementia affects 35.6 million people world-wide; this number is projected to double every 20 years. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common type and has been found to have similar cause and pathology to common neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We ultimately require treatments to slow, stop and repair the damaged brain of FTD patients and this is only possible by understanding the mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of disease.
RELapses PrevENTion In Chronic Autoimmune Disease: Common Mechanisms And Co-morbidities (RELENT)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,837.00
Summary
Treatment of people with chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases is not optimal, as we do not know how intensively to treat people, and current treatments often have significant side effects. The RELENT program aims, using multiple approaches, to gain a deeper and more useful knowledge of why these diseases are occuring, what might indicate that disease requires more treatment, and which treatments will be most targeted and have the fewest side effects.
A vaccine to prevent AIDS is urgently needed. The European Union recently awarded over 20 million euros to a European consortium, called EAVI2020, to advance multiple HIV vaccines into human testing. Five Australian HIV vaccine experts are named investigators on this award to provide advanced laboratory analyses and intellectual input into the 5 year program if this NHMRC-EU Collaborative Research Grant is successful.