Structural Studies Of Thyroid Peroxidase, An Autoantigen In Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,423.00
Summary
This proposal is aimed at determining the three dimensional structure of Thyroid Peroxidase, a protein found in the human thyroid gland that is important in the production of the hormone thyroxine. Thyroxine is involved in controlling the rate of metabolic processes in the body and influencing physical development.
The Function Of The Natural Antisense Ghrelin Receptor Gene (GHSROS) In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,750.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the world and the incidence in Australia is rising with our aging population. Survival rates for lung cancer are very poor. We have discovered a new gene that is produced by lung cancer cells and may contribute to the aggressive nature of this disease. We will investigate this gene to determine if it could be a useful target for new therapies for lung cancer and it determine its utility as a biomarker for the severity of t ....Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the world and the incidence in Australia is rising with our aging population. Survival rates for lung cancer are very poor. We have discovered a new gene that is produced by lung cancer cells and may contribute to the aggressive nature of this disease. We will investigate this gene to determine if it could be a useful target for new therapies for lung cancer and it determine its utility as a biomarker for the severity of the disease.Read moreRead less
Development Of BRET Detection Systems: Tools For Functional Proteomics And Drug Discovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,320.00
Summary
The internal structure of articular cartilage is critical to its biomechanical function. Cartilage is one of the most intricate and difficult tissues to examine in-vivo. Maintenance of its functional characteristics depends heavily of the internal microstructure of the tissue, while conventional arthroscopy can only give a view of the surface and provides no information on the internal structure. Biopsy examination can also destroy the integrity of the tissue, making it impossible to concurrentl ....The internal structure of articular cartilage is critical to its biomechanical function. Cartilage is one of the most intricate and difficult tissues to examine in-vivo. Maintenance of its functional characteristics depends heavily of the internal microstructure of the tissue, while conventional arthroscopy can only give a view of the surface and provides no information on the internal structure. Biopsy examination can also destroy the integrity of the tissue, making it impossible to concurrently examine the structure and function of the tissue. The structure-function relationship is thus critical to the study and the advancement of clinical treatment techniques for cartilage disorders. Osteoarthritis is characterized by severe disruption to the cartilage matrix. The emergence of autologous chondrocyte implant (ACI) therapy as a method for repairing cartilage defects has further increased interest in clinical techniques for the examination of cartilage structure and function. The development of confocal microscopy facilitates internal examination of loaded tissue for the first time, enabling direct examination of the association between structure and function of the tissue. A prototype confocal arthroscope has been developed to facilitate clinical examination of cartilage structure. This, in turn, allows the functional characteristics of the tissue to be deduced. Cartilage exhibits little intrinsic repair making biopsies undesirable. Thus, with respect to cartilage in particular, the developed technologies promise to enable examination to a level of detail which was previously impossible. The current prototype arthroscope has demonstrated the feasibility of a genuine clinical instrument. This grant application seeks funds to conduct initial clinical trials in order to gain sufficient practical feedback to enable design and construction of a clinically ready system.Read moreRead less
Prevention Of Late Breast Cancer (BC) Events In Postmenopausal Women With Endocrine Responsive BC.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,687,599.00
Summary
This proposal is from Australia's national breast cancer (BC) trials group, the ANZ BCTG, for a new phase III, multi-centre clinical trial evaluating whether much later endocrine therapy with an aromatase inhibitor can prevent BC recurrence in postmenopausal women who have: had hormone sensitive BC at least 6 years ago; were treated by Tamoxifen more than 1 year ago; and, are currently disease free. Subjects will randomly receive letrozole or placebo as a daily tablet for five years.
Using New Retinal Imaging Technologies To Improve Treatment And Classification Of Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,644.00
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in Australia. This project aims to use new ways of imaging changes in the back of the eye to try to improve the treatment and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.
The Physiological Relevance Of Calcitonin In Osteoclast Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,640.00
Summary
Throughout adult life, bone tissue is continuously remodelled. The two main processes involved in bone remodelling, are bone formation and bone breakdown. Bone formation is controlled by cells known as osteoblasts and bone breakdown is controlled by cells known as osteoclasts. Under normal circumstances these two processes are tightly coupled. Excessive breakdown of bone, causes these two processes to become unbalanced and results in bone loss. This is the basis of many bone diseases such as ost ....Throughout adult life, bone tissue is continuously remodelled. The two main processes involved in bone remodelling, are bone formation and bone breakdown. Bone formation is controlled by cells known as osteoblasts and bone breakdown is controlled by cells known as osteoclasts. Under normal circumstances these two processes are tightly coupled. Excessive breakdown of bone, causes these two processes to become unbalanced and results in bone loss. This is the basis of many bone diseases such as osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become fragile and therefore more susceptible to fracture. 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men aged 70 years and older suffer from osteoporosis in Australia. Despite this, the mechanisms which control osteoclast breakdown of bone are not well understood. Our laboratory is interested in how hormones affect osteoclast action. We plan to examine the role of the hormone calcitonin, thought to be important inhibitor of osteoclastic bone breakdown. This will be achieved by studying transgenic mice in which the receptor for calcitonin is specifically removed from osteoclasts. This will allow us to precisely determine the role of calcitonin in osteoclast function. Current treatment for osteoporosis involves the administration of drugs which inhibit bone breakdown. This project will increase our understanding of how calcitonin acts to regulate the function of osteoclasts. We believe that this research is of great importance as osteoporosis is becoming more prevalent as the population ages.Read moreRead less