A Novel Approach To Cytokine Blockade For The Treatment Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,700.00
Summary
Lupus is a disease of the immune system which can cause inflammation and damage to many organs and even death, often affecting young people in their prime of life. Current treatments are limited and often have undesirable side effects. Certain cells and molecules are thought to be responsible for causing lupus. This project will examine the effect of blocking one of these molecules as a means of treating lupus. It will also use gene and protein analysis of samples from lupus patients to see if r ....Lupus is a disease of the immune system which can cause inflammation and damage to many organs and even death, often affecting young people in their prime of life. Current treatments are limited and often have undesirable side effects. Certain cells and molecules are thought to be responsible for causing lupus. This project will examine the effect of blocking one of these molecules as a means of treating lupus. It will also use gene and protein analysis of samples from lupus patients to see if response to treatments can be predicted.Read moreRead less
Molecular Dissection Of Cytokine-mediated Regulation Of Human B-cell Differentiation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$119,314.00
Summary
Interleukin 21 is a molecule which activates B cells. Defects in this pathway cause immunodeficiency where individuals cannot make antibodies, while constant activation has been reported in mouse models of autoimmunity. Examining these pathways will shed light on the causes of human immune disease, and may reveal molecules that could be targeted for the treatment of immunodeficiency and autoimmunity. Amplification of normal immune responses could lead to the development of improved vaccines.
Targeted Molecular Therapies And Predictive Biomarkers In A Novel Orthotopic Xenograft Model Of Oesophageal Carcinoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,253.00
Summary
Oesophageal cancer is the most rapidly increasing malignancy in Western society. This disease often presents in advanced stages with poor response to established medical and surgical therapies. Our aim is to develop a novel mouse model of oesophageal cancer, allowing us to tailor cancer-inhibiting molecular treatments to individual patients by predicting therapeutic success or resistance with the use of cellular markers identified in our animal mode.
The Use Of Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Novel Immune And Microbiological Biomarkers To Improve The Diagnosis And Prognostication Of Giant Cell Arteritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an inflammatory condition of blood vessels. Diagnosing the condition and predicting which patients will develop complications is challenging. Undiagnosed, a significant proportion of patients experience sudden onset, permanent blindness. Our study aims to improve the diagnosis and risk assessment of patients with suspected GCA by following a group of 65 patients for two years with serial scans, blood tests and clinical reviews.
Cell Type Specific Mechanisms Of Mineralocorticoid Mediated Renal Injury In Glomerulonephritis And Diabetic Nephropathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$103,582.00
Summary
Mineralocorticoid exists normally in the human body to maintain fluid and salt balance. However, it is also implicated in diseases affecting the heart and the kidneys. My research aims to further our understanding on how mineralocorticoids contribute to kidney disease, and in particular, to investigate the role of specific kidney cells on mediating kidney injury. Ultimately this research may facilitate development of treatments allowing cell specific blockade of mineralocorticoids, which may red ....Mineralocorticoid exists normally in the human body to maintain fluid and salt balance. However, it is also implicated in diseases affecting the heart and the kidneys. My research aims to further our understanding on how mineralocorticoids contribute to kidney disease, and in particular, to investigate the role of specific kidney cells on mediating kidney injury. Ultimately this research may facilitate development of treatments allowing cell specific blockade of mineralocorticoids, which may reduce kidney diseases such as diabetic nephropathy.Read moreRead less
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in increasing worldwide, the International Diabetes Federation predicting 435 million will have diabetes in 2030. The major driver of the diabetes epidemic is obesity. There is strong evidence linking type 2 diabetes and obesity to an increased risk of cancer. However, the exact mechanism promoting cancer development in obese and diabetic individuals is not clear. This project will examine the effects of high insulin levels on cancer development and progression.
Vitamin D And Genetic Susceptibility In Multiple Sclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,714.00
Summary
Vitamin D3 levels appear to predict clinical status in multiple sclerosis. The reasons for this are unclear, but may be linked to the effect of the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) on a subset of immune cells. This project aims to identify key genes which are regulated by this receptor, by using specific gene sequencing technologies combined with knowledge of the genes which confer risk of developing MS. This may help to identify the molecular pathways underlying MS and potential treatment strategies.
Inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis and dermatitis, are responsible for a large burden of human disease and affect people across alldemographics. Knockout (KO) of TNF signalling members in mice is known to induce skin inflammation. This project proposes to use these genetic mouse models to investigate how and why disruption of particular TNF superfamily members leads to disease and potentially identify new targets for treatment.