Evaluation Of Circulating Endothelial Cells In Prostate Cancer Detection, Prognosis And Treatment Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$32,628.00
Summary
A current shortfall in clinical medicine is tests which discriminate different forms and severity of cancers. The project will aim to identify useful strategies based on blood factors of angiogenesis, a fundamental process in tumour growth and dissemination. Development of such tests may permit better delineation of prognosis, act as a surrogate marker of treatment efficacy and aid in developing and optimizing new treatments, key areas of need in prostate cancer.
The immune system plays an important role in protecting the host from viral and bacterial infections, and inhibits cancer onset and progression. Unfortunately the immune system can sometimes lose specificity and attack the host resulting in autoimmune diseases such as diabetes. This research team has played a vital role in characterising the specific activities of immune cells and the associated factors. By understanding these complex processes the team aims to harness the unique therapeutic pro ....The immune system plays an important role in protecting the host from viral and bacterial infections, and inhibits cancer onset and progression. Unfortunately the immune system can sometimes lose specificity and attack the host resulting in autoimmune diseases such as diabetes. This research team has played a vital role in characterising the specific activities of immune cells and the associated factors. By understanding these complex processes the team aims to harness the unique therapeutic properties of our own immune system and translate their findings into the clinic.Read moreRead less
Modeling Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy In Zebrafish
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,190.00
Summary
Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a muscle degenerative disease characterised by specific muscle degeneration. Human genetic studies have identified specific genes that are mutated in patients with EDMD. We have generated zebrafish models of the most common forms of EDMD and propose to use these models to determine how mutations in these genes contributes to a lack of muscle integrity in this muscular dystrophy.
A Novel Procedure For Efficacious Gonadotrophin-free Infertility Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,328.00
Summary
Infertility is common and is associated with health risks and is expensive. Using laboratory animals, we have developed a unique procedure, which has comparable success rates to IVF but crucially, it eliminates the need for ovarian hormone therapy used in IVF. A clinical trial using this method has started in Brussels and in this project we will examine cells from that trial and from animals to investigate the underlying mechanisms to enable safe and rapid clinical implementation.
Understanding The Ancestry Of De Novo Blood Formation In The Early Embryo
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$484,666.00
Summary
Current laboratory methods rely on a hit-or-miss approach for the production of such cells, making the prospect of producing patient-specific cells an inefficient/financially prohibitive process. This project aims to generate new knowledge into when and how fate of early blood cells in selected in nature. With this information we will be able to devise effective blood progenitor cell production strategies in the laboratory.
The Therapeutic Potential Of Neuroepithelial Cells In The Injured Rat Spinal Cord.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$69,684.00
Summary
At present, human spinal cord injury is a permanent disease, as damaged cells (neurons) within the spinal cord are unable to regrow. Early in development, some species have the ability to regrow neurons across a damaged area. The cells that support this regrowth are unknown. These supportive cells could be an effective means of stimulating regrowth in the adult spinal cord. Our aim is to investigate the growth potential of rat embryonic spinal cord cells, for adult spinal cord cell regrowth.