Prof A Suhrbier is the Group Leader of the Inflammation Biology Group at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. The group focuses at the applied end of inflammation research and development and will be involved in the identification and development of new interventions and diagnostics for inflammatory diseases and cancer, often in collaboration with the biotech industry.
Combating Giardiasis By Investigating New Potent Compound Series As Leads For Improved Treatment Options
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$776,028.00
Summary
Giardia parasites infect ~1 billion people globally and are responsible for significant morbidity and disadvantage. There is no licensed vaccine and current treatment options are inadequate, resulting in poor compliance, treatment failures, rapid re-infection and drug resistance. New therapies are needed to combat this parasite and improve the health of millions world-wide. We will address this issue by investigating new drug candidates for the treatment of Giardia infections.
Phenotypic Characterization Of Chloroquine Resistance In Plasmodia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$585,473.00
Summary
In the Asia-Pacific region, vivax malaria is becoming the dominant species of infection. The emergence and spread of chloroquine resistant strains of P. vivax threatens malaria control and elimination efforts. This project aims to elucidate fundamental aspects of chloroquine resistance in non-falciparum malaria and identify novel therapeutic options. We will develop novel tests that will help national malaria control programs to monitor declining activity of standard anti-malarial drugs.
Developing Novel Agents To Prevent Tumour Recurrence In Glioblastoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,089,561.00
Summary
Glioblastoma is a form of brain cancer that is currently incurable. We have discovered that switching-off an enzyme called KDM4 (using 'KDM4 inhibitors') improves chemotherapy outcomes with new drugs also discovered in our laboratory. This project will examine a novel drug combination treatment for glioblastoma patients and generate evidence for initiation of clinical trials. This could initiate a novel therapy that could significantly extend patients' lives.
Defining The Mechanisms Of Action For Ozonide Antimalarials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$668,152.00
Summary
Deadly malaria parasites have emerged that are resistant to all classes of approved drugs. Ozonides are a new class of medicines recently approved for malaria, and provide a much-needed treatment option for multi-drug resistant infections. However, the mode of action and potential for cross-resistance is poorly understood. This project will use modern analytical techniques to measure the impact of ozonides on parasite biochemistry to reveal mechanisms involved in drug action and resistance.
Validation Of Formyl Peptide Receptor (FPR)2 As A Target For New Anti-cancer Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$588,529.00
Summary
Treatment of breast and other cancers is making incremental improvements, but premature death from this disease and its recurrence in some women after a long period of remission are not adequately treated by current drugs. New work has identified a target called FPR2 that could be used to guide the development of novel drugs. The current project seeks to validate the new drug target, before resource intensive efforts are made to find suitable drugs.
Steroid-enhancing Selective Casein Kinase Inhibitors: First In Class Novel Inhaled Anti-asthma Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,064.00
Summary
Chronic lung diseases reduce quality and duration of life of 0.5 billion globally (1 in 4 Australians). Current drugs fail to adequately reduce the decline in lung function. This development is based on the discovery of an enzyme pathway contributing to poor lung function. The project will identify the best doses of the drug and the best combinations with existing drugs to reduce the lung scarring and inflammation. These new findings support efforts to secure investment for clinical testing.
Novel Fluorescent Probes Of Cellular Microenvironments To Study The Mechanism Of Action Of Endoperoxide Antimalarials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$983,305.00
Summary
Malaria is responsible for the deaths of about two million children each year. As current drugs become increasingly useless due to the development of parasite resistance, there is an urgent need for new antimalarials. Artemisinin, an ancient Chinese drug that is extracted from wormwood, is now a front-line antimalarial, however its mechanism of action is not clear. Information about how artemisinin works is needed to help design cheap synthetic drugs that work in the same way.
Discovery Of Active Metabolic Pathways Suitable For Drug Targeting In Trypanosoma Brucei
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,517.00
Summary
Sleeping Sickness is a parasitic disease affecting many of the world’s poorest countries, and is fatal if left untreated. The aim of this project is to identify new metabolic pathways in the parasite that causes Sleeping Sickness, and to investigate how drugs interfere with parasite metabolism. This will provide the basis for new drug discovery efforts and facilitate the development of new medicines for Sleeping Sickness.