Economic, social and cross cultural issues in non-pharmaceutical protection of front line responders to pandemic influenza and emerging infections. The protection of front line responders in a pandemic is essential to underpin an effective response. This research is the only work internationally which will address a key gap in evidence. This research has major implications for the national stockpile and for management of front line responders in a pandemic. These data are urgently needed, not ju ....Economic, social and cross cultural issues in non-pharmaceutical protection of front line responders to pandemic influenza and emerging infections. The protection of front line responders in a pandemic is essential to underpin an effective response. This research is the only work internationally which will address a key gap in evidence. This research has major implications for the national stockpile and for management of front line responders in a pandemic. These data are urgently needed, not just in Australia, but globally to inform pandemic planning and disease control policy around emerging infections and bioterrorism.Read moreRead less
THE EFFECT OF LONG ACTING BRONCHODILATORS ON VENTILATION IN COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$143,676.00
Summary
COPD is a common and important smoking-related lung disease. Well-established treatments with inhaled medications including long-acting bronchodilators have a proven clinical track record. However the physiological basis for their effects is still under investigation. This research examines some of the physiological changes in lung function and the response to long-acting bronchodilators in patients with COPD, and may help explain why some patients respond to therapy while others do not, leading ....COPD is a common and important smoking-related lung disease. Well-established treatments with inhaled medications including long-acting bronchodilators have a proven clinical track record. However the physiological basis for their effects is still under investigation. This research examines some of the physiological changes in lung function and the response to long-acting bronchodilators in patients with COPD, and may help explain why some patients respond to therapy while others do not, leading to more targeted therapeuticsRead moreRead less
Resolving Eosinophil And Inflammatory Heterogeneity In Chronic Allergic Airway Disease For Safer, Effective And Lasting Precision Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,166,165.00
Summary
Many patients with upper airway inflammation and asthma have poorly controlled disease and are in need of new effective therapies. We have discovered new cell subsets in the airways of these patients. We will use cutting edge single cell and spatial analysis of human tissues to define human allergic disease and inflammatory cells at unprecedented resolution. This will identify new targets for treatment and match patients with effective therapies to facilitate precision therapy.
Making Signalling Through The Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptors Selective For Promoting Neutrophil Antimicrobial Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,312.00
Summary
It is evident to the professional and general community that antibiotic and drug resistance displayed by bacteria is a continuing and growing problem in the treatment of infection with potentially casastrophic effect on the health of our community. This concern is only partly reduced by our potential to develop new antimicrobial agents and vaccines. If we were able to use immunomodulators in a relatively safe and appropriate manner to target and enhance the antimicrobial power of specific compon ....It is evident to the professional and general community that antibiotic and drug resistance displayed by bacteria is a continuing and growing problem in the treatment of infection with potentially casastrophic effect on the health of our community. This concern is only partly reduced by our potential to develop new antimicrobial agents and vaccines. If we were able to use immunomodulators in a relatively safe and appropriate manner to target and enhance the antimicrobial power of specific components of the immune system then this could be exploited in the treatment of infection. While body proteins formed (cytokines) which modify the behaviour of the immune system are being used as pharmaceuticals, their toxic side effects are problematic to the patient. Our project focusses on one of the cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which increases the antimicrobial activity of phagocytic cells but in addition can have quite devastating effects on other tissues in the body. This is because when TNF binds to its receptor on cells and tissues it elicits a multitude of signals inside the cell which can also precipitate illness. The purpose of our investigations is to identify which signals are responsible for increasing resistance against infection and which are not. With this information we will then see if it is feasible to selectively stimulate this signal from outside the cell since this has a better chance of succeeding as a pharmaceutical. This task is likely to be achievable since our research team has made some unique observations about TNF signalling characteristics and we have developed a peptide TNF mimetic which shows only the characteristics of increasing antimicrobial activity.Read moreRead less
Comparative Pathophysiology And Clinical Epidemiology Of Knowlesi Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,172.00
Summary
The simian parasite P. knowlesi is the most common cause of malaria in Malaysia and can cause severe and fatal disease. We are currently conducting a study of all malaria patients admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Sabah, Malaysia. This will allow us to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of the hospitalised patients, including changes over time. We are also conducting novel pathophysiological studies which will allow us to understand how P. knowlesi causes sever disease.
Using Metagenomics To Determine The Causative Agent(s) Of Tick-Borne Disease In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$639,428.00
Summary
Tick-borne disease has emerged as a topical and controversial public health problem in Australia. We will employ state-of-the-art techniques in metagenomics to determine what microbial species (bacteria, viruses and eukaryotes) circulate in Australian ticks and whether these or different microbes are also present in humans diagnosed with tick-borne disease. The data generated will provide key information on whether tick-borne disease has a microbiological cause and, if so, the microbes involved.
Translational Research On Malignant Pleural Effusion And Pleural Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$487,891.00
Summary
I am a leading researcher in pleural effusions (fluid build-up in the chest) from cancer and infection. I run a multicentre clinical trial team to answer important questions directly relevant to patient care, as well as a lab research group with proven record of discovery new treatment targets. This fellowship will capitalize on platforms I have built and determine best approach to remove effusions, understand etiologic roles of the fluid ultimately to find ways to stop fluid from forming.
Assessing a model of the physiological changes at arousal from sleep. Arousals from sleep are common in the elderly and have adverse consequences. This project will investigate a model of the changes in bodily processes (muscle, brain and cardiovascular activation) that occur when humans awaken from sleep.
Studies On Mechanisms Of Vesicular Trafficking And Catalysis For The Menkes (MNK) Copper-transporting P-type ATPase
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,757.00
Summary
Copper is an essential trace element for all organisms. Copper is needed for many processes including energy metabolism, the making and maintenance of strong bones and arteries with sufficient elasticity, the synthesis of chemical transmitters in the brain and for the reactions which remove toxic Ofree radicalsO. Copper is also used by the proteins involved in important neurological diseases including Alzheimers disease and Omad cowO disease. Menkes disease is an inherited and usually lethal cop ....Copper is an essential trace element for all organisms. Copper is needed for many processes including energy metabolism, the making and maintenance of strong bones and arteries with sufficient elasticity, the synthesis of chemical transmitters in the brain and for the reactions which remove toxic Ofree radicalsO. Copper is also used by the proteins involved in important neurological diseases including Alzheimers disease and Omad cowO disease. Menkes disease is an inherited and usually lethal copper deficiency disorder in humans, and the diverse and detrimental symptoms of this disease related to organs and tissues described above is a stark indicator of the essentiality of copper. We have carried out extensive research on Menkes disease and in particular the Menkes protein which in normal individuals plays a major role in maintaining the copper balance in cells, i.e. enough Cu to satisfy nutritional needs of cells but not too much which causes toxicity. The normal Menkes protein catalyses the transport of Cu across membranes of cells to the areas where it is needed by copper-dependent enzymes which themselves catalyse important chemical reactions. The normal Menkes protein functions as a molecular pump. We have discovered that this protein can OsenseO Cu concentrations in the cell and when these reach potentially toxic levels it can move (traffick) via small vesicles to the plasma membrane which surrounds cells. There it pumps the excess Cu out of the cell and returns to its original location. Our studies are directed to understanding the molecular mechanisms which permit this remarkable protein to achieve a copper balance in living cells. The findings will be of major significance in understanding and treating acquired and inherited diseases involving copper deficiency or copper toxicity.Read moreRead less
Prof McGuckin is studying common chronic diseases (gut and respiratory inflammatory diseases, arthritis, and obesity and diabetes) that are major contributors to poor health in the Australian community and are major contributors to healthcare expenditure. His research includes basic studies elucidating the biological basis of these diseases and then uses this new knowledge to develop new therapeutic approaches to treatment. The new therapeutic approaches will be tested in model systems as a prel ....Prof McGuckin is studying common chronic diseases (gut and respiratory inflammatory diseases, arthritis, and obesity and diabetes) that are major contributors to poor health in the Australian community and are major contributors to healthcare expenditure. His research includes basic studies elucidating the biological basis of these diseases and then uses this new knowledge to develop new therapeutic approaches to treatment. The new therapeutic approaches will be tested in model systems as a prelude to clinical trials.Read moreRead less