Characterisation Of The Cellular Changes Induced By Ultraviolet A Radiation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,500.00
Summary
Sunlight is an important environmental health hazard as it causes immunosuppression and cancer. It suppresses our ability to destroy developing cancers. Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world, 66% of Australians develop skin cancer during their lifetime. The relationship between UV dose, wavelength and cancer in humans is unknown. As this cannot be directly experimentally determined in humans, surrogate biological endpoints such as immunosuppression will help determine t ....Sunlight is an important environmental health hazard as it causes immunosuppression and cancer. It suppresses our ability to destroy developing cancers. Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world, 66% of Australians develop skin cancer during their lifetime. The relationship between UV dose, wavelength and cancer in humans is unknown. As this cannot be directly experimentally determined in humans, surrogate biological endpoints such as immunosuppression will help determine the damaging wavebands within sunlight. There has been little work on the effect of UVA on health or the mechanisms of action of UVA compared to UVB. A recent consensus UVA working group of 80 international participants convened by the American Academy of Dermatology out of concern about the lack of knowledge of UVA on human health concluded that the action spectrum for photocarcinogenesis and photoageing, particularly the efficacy of UVA in humans remains to be elucidated, and that more funding should be provided for radiation biology research to help elucidate UVA mechanisms of injury. Similarly a recent expert meeting (including Prof. Halliday) convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) on sunscreen protection from skin cancer recommended that studies should be conducted on the effects of exposure to UVA in causing both photoageing and skin cancer which followed from their major recommendation that it is important to understand the nature of the dose-response relationship on risk and the action spectrum for each effect . The studies described in this project will contribute to these recommendations.Read moreRead less
There are 140 million contact lens wearers worldwide. Use of contact lenses is associated with ocular inflammation (approximately 2-7% per year). We have developed novel antimicrobial coatings for contact lenses which we have shown in laboratory and animal models can reduce the ability of microbes to adhere to lenses and reduce associated inflammation. This Development project will enable us to generate proof-of-principle in a clinical cohort using existing contact lenses that have been coated u ....There are 140 million contact lens wearers worldwide. Use of contact lenses is associated with ocular inflammation (approximately 2-7% per year). We have developed novel antimicrobial coatings for contact lenses which we have shown in laboratory and animal models can reduce the ability of microbes to adhere to lenses and reduce associated inflammation. This Development project will enable us to generate proof-of-principle in a clinical cohort using existing contact lenses that have been coated using our patented processes.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm On Eye Infection And The Development Of Antimicrobial Contact Lenses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,932.00
Summary
Worldwide, 125 million people correct their vision through the use of contact lenses. Contact lens use predisposes the wearer to sight threatening eye infections. Despite advanced material technology and improved hygiene regimens, the rate of contact lens-related infectious disease has remained constant. This research aims to elucidate how bacteria compromise the ocular immune system in order to develop preventative/therapeutic strategies to combat ocular infections.
Effects Of Upper Versus Lower Respiratory Infections On The Induction Of Atopic Asthma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,483.00
Summary
Asthma is more common now in developed countries than it was 20-30 years ago. Many fewer children have asthma in developing countries and there does not appear to have been the same increase in asthma in recent years. Children in developed countries tend to have fewer respiratory infections and recent studies suggest that this may be partly responsible for the increase in asthma. An understanding of why asthma has increased in developed countries may lead to strategies to prevent asthma. In orde ....Asthma is more common now in developed countries than it was 20-30 years ago. Many fewer children have asthma in developing countries and there does not appear to have been the same increase in asthma in recent years. Children in developed countries tend to have fewer respiratory infections and recent studies suggest that this may be partly responsible for the increase in asthma. An understanding of why asthma has increased in developed countries may lead to strategies to prevent asthma. In order to understand the role that respiratory infections may play in the induction of asthma, it is necessary to study babies from birth, documenting each respiratory inflection and monitoring their diet. In a recent large study we have shown that parental reports of common colds and chest infections do influence how many children have asthma at age 6. Also in this study, breast feeding for at least 4 months seemed to be protective against developing asthma. However, we were not able to verify how many infections the children in that study actually had. We are currently studying a population of 236 infants, all of whom are at high risk of developing asthma and allergies. At the end on November 1998, 163 of these infants had reached one year of age. During the first year of life, these infants had a total of 669 respiratory infections, with individual babies having between 0 and 11 infections. We now plan to monitor these children until they turn 5, when we will determine how many have asthma and allergies. In this way we will be able to determine whether children who have more respiratory infections early in life are more or less likely to have asthma and allergies at 5 years of age. We will also be able to tell whether breast-feeding is able to decrease the chance of developing asthma and allergies.Read moreRead less
Factor XII Dependent Coagulation, Thrombin And Platelet Glycoprotein 1ba In Arterial Thrombosis And Bleeding Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,664.00
Summary
Clot formation is the key event underlying heart attacks and strokes. There is new data that Factor XII (FXII) can play an important role in clot formation-thrombosis. We aim to examine the role FXII plays in clot formation, in particular the role of FXII in thrombin generation, which is the central event of clot formation, and its interaction with platelet glycoprotein 1ba (another important molecule in thrombosis). New insights into clotting and new therapies can result from our research.