Engineering An Osteochondral Tissue For Cartilage Defect Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,568.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of pain and disability in Australia. Our team has developed a novel method to make new cartilage tissue from patients' own bone marrow stem cells. Through NHMRC funding we will optimize this process and test the repair technology in a large animal model.
Investigating Early Life Exposure To Plastic Products In Australia And Subsequent Neurodevelopmental Effects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$791,376.00
Summary
Child neurodevelopment disorders like autism are becoming more common. Recent work indicates almost all pregnant mothers in Australia harbour plastic chemicals – bisphenols and phthalates and foetus is also exposed. Human evidence is emerging that higher exposure to plastics during pregnancy may be associated with these disorders. Randomised controlled trials are not possible so high quality birth cohort studies, as proposed here, are required to investigate this issue comprehensively.
Upscaling Cardiac Tissue Engineering: Differentiation Of IPS Cells, Enrichment And Bionic Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,758.00
Summary
Stem cell therapies to repair heart muscle are experimental methods which promise future clinical treatments. Our tissue engineering chamber model provides a protective environment for implanted cells and generates contracting heart tissue. Towards clinical application we will scale up the tissue volume produced by: improving cell supply with new stem cell technologies, design chambers for bulk cell implantation, adopt a bionic approach to cell pacing and apply the model into larger animals.
Plasmin is a complex enzyme that performs major roles in removal of blood clots, wound healing and in tumor metastasis. Here we will understand how plasmin function is regulated at the molecular level. These key insights will be of future use in the development of therapeutics targeting the plasmin system in cancer and clotting diseases.
Evaluation Of Tissue Engineered Decellularised Biphasic Constructs For Periodontal Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,031.00
Summary
This project aims to regenerate the tissues lost as a result of gum disease. This will be done using scaffolds that replicate the complex structure of periodontal tissues.The scaffolds will be loaded with cells and allowed to mature before the cellular component is removed. The resultant construct is then inserted back into periodontal defects where it will be repopulated by host cells. This approach has the potential to be developed into an off-the-shelf clinical treatment.
Effects Of Intestinal Inflammation On Functioning Of Enteric Neurons: From Animal Models To Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,206.00
Summary
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two debilitating conditions known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), affect more than 61,000 Australians. There is no cure for IBD. All gut functions are controlled by enteric neurons in the gut wall. Inflammation causes damage and death of these neurons leading to gut dysfunctions. This is the first study defining the classes of human enteric neurons affected by inflammation. This study will test several potential new targets for the treatment of IBD.
Examining The Contribution Of Mutant DNMT3a In The Development And Sustained Growth Of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$820,880.00
Summary
Experimental models of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) have been valuable tools for studying this cancer. Recent analysis of human cancer genomes identified novel mutated gene products implicated in AML. To study the involvement of these genes in the development and sustained growth of AML, we will generate new experimental models that express the mutated forms of these newly described genes. These studies will assist in the development of improved treatments for patients with AML.
Clinical Trial Of A Suprachoroidal Visual Prosthesis For The Profoundly Vision Impaired
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,098,802.00
Summary
For 15 years we have been designing a bionic eye. We have made a device called the Phoenix99 and shown in short term animal tests that it is both safe to implant but also that it potentially performs better than any other device in the world. We are requesting funds to complete longer term animal testing of the device and then commence a small human clinical trial to demonstrate the benefits of the technology – specifically that it is able to help blind people navigate without assistance.
Detection And Manipulation Of Neuronal Activities With A Synthetic Optogenetic Activity-reporting Transcription System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,012.00
Summary
Functional brain mapping is important for understanding mental illnesses such as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders. Current techniques for functional brain mapping are limited and not suitable for large-scale studies. The proposed project will generate new tools that can be used to map activated neurocircuitry in laboratory model organisms and will enhance our ability to design effective treatments for mental illnesses.
‘Intelligent’ Antibacterial Coatings For Improving Outcomes With Infections Associated With Dialysis Catheters
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,806.00
Summary
The outcomes of this projects will set the framework for the rational design of novel and ’intelligent‘ antibacterial coating that selectively respond to the ‘virulent’ bacteria that cause such significant and recurrent issues in routine kidney dialysis regimens and will underpin future academic and commercial collaborative efforts to rationally-design and manufacture kidney dialysis catheters with substrate surface characteristics that will enhance utility, function and clinical application;