Targeting The Pathophysiology And Therapy Of Liver Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$484,006.00
Summary
Hepatic fibrosis, or scarring of the liver, is a serious condition which can lead to liver cancer or death. Treatment of liver scarring is currently not effective once the scarring is well developed. This project aims to examine agents which may act to halt liver scarring once it has already developed. Outcomes from this project may help provide potential treatments to reduce the need for liver transplantation or to reduce patient deaths.
Identifying Donor And Recipient Gene Pathways In Renal Transplant Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,082,069.00
Summary
We have identified a 13 gene set that predicts renal transplant fibrosis and graft loss in patients. Interestingly some of these gene are donor as well as recipient related. In this project we aim to investigate these gene pathways in cell lines and animal models to better understand how the cause of renal fibrosis after transplantation.
Fibrosis is a major mechanism driving chronic disease. A specific pathologic process (TGF/Smad signalling) plays an important role in scarring of the kidney and the heart; but our understanding of this process is limited. Our exciting new data has identified a chemical modification of a component of this scarring pathway (acetylation of Smad3), and this project seeks to determine whether this modification plays a pivotal role in regulating tissue scarring.
Aberrant Signalling Through Gp130 In The Pathogenesis Of Fibrotic Lung Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,500.00
Summary
Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic diffuse interstitial lung disease of unknown cause, characterised pathologically by inflammation and fibrosis of the lung tissue. The prognosis is poor with a 50% mortality at five years after diagnosis and considerable morbidity during those years. Previous investigations have documented the role for inflammation in the development of pulmonary fibrosis and current therapeutic strategies are aimed at suppressing the inflammation. Data generated over the past deca ....Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic diffuse interstitial lung disease of unknown cause, characterised pathologically by inflammation and fibrosis of the lung tissue. The prognosis is poor with a 50% mortality at five years after diagnosis and considerable morbidity during those years. Previous investigations have documented the role for inflammation in the development of pulmonary fibrosis and current therapeutic strategies are aimed at suppressing the inflammation. Data generated over the past decade also have established the concept that the molecular processes underlying the fibrogenesis component may represent a new opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Attempts to treat fibrosis have for the most part consisted of anti- inflammatory drugs, almost exclusively steroids. The effectiveness of steroids is variable and can be associated with significant side effects. This project will examine the effects of a family of molecules called cytokines that signal through gp130 as critical determinants of disease susceptibility and progression. gp 130 is a shared component in the receptor complexes for IL-6 family cytokines (IL-6, IL-11, LIF, OSM) which are important regulators of both the phenotype and proliferation of fibroblasts in health and in response to injury. Our data raises the possibility of developing pharmacological manipulators of gp130 signalling pathways that would suppress fibrosis but leave normal cellular defense mechanisms necessary for host defense in the lung intact.Read moreRead less
Identification Of The Mechanisms Of Hepatic Fibrogenesis Aid In The Detection And Prediction Of Clinical Outcomes In Paediatric Cholestatic Liver Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,429.00
Summary
Biliary Atresia (BA) and Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease (CFLD) are important causes of childhood cirrhosis. Diagnosis is difficult, treatments problematic, and outcomes suboptimal. In BA, bile duct obstruction in infants rapidly progresses to liver failure. It is the most common indication for liver transplantation in children. CFLD causes significant morbidity/mortality in about 20% of CF children. This proposal investigates the mechanisms of liver fibrosis (scarring) and the role of fibrosis in ....Biliary Atresia (BA) and Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease (CFLD) are important causes of childhood cirrhosis. Diagnosis is difficult, treatments problematic, and outcomes suboptimal. In BA, bile duct obstruction in infants rapidly progresses to liver failure. It is the most common indication for liver transplantation in children. CFLD causes significant morbidity/mortality in about 20% of CF children. This proposal investigates the mechanisms of liver fibrosis (scarring) and the role of fibrosis in both diagnosis and predicting clinical outcome.Read moreRead less
Renal failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with diabetes mellitus and accounts for the majority of renal disease worldwide. Renal fibrosis is the end result of progressive kidney disease. The proposed research aims to identify a new strategy by targeting specific channels in kidney cell membranes to arrest the development of enal fibrosis and hence progressive kidney disease caused by diabetes mellitus.
Professor Stick is a career clinician researcher in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine. He has established worl-leading research teams focused on respiratory diseases in young children such as cystic fibrosis and asthma. He has has developed innovative methods to study early childhood respiratory diseases and has been responsible for training scores of clinicians and scientists in the field. He has received national and international awards in recognition of his achievements.
Novel Methods For The Early Identification Of Progressive Disease In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$676,685.00
Summary
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a severe and progressive lung disease with no proven treatment. IPF causes persistent scarring in the lungs that reduces the lungs ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. The rate at which the disease progresses is highly variable, some patients remain stable while others deteriorate rapidly. This research will look for indicators that predict the rate of disease progression. Understanding this will assist doctors to improve the management of IPF.
Airway fibrosis or scaring causes significant morbidity in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma . These diseases affect 10-15% of the population, and cost the health system $1.15 billion per year. Airway fibrosis is not decreased by the current therapeutics used to treat COPD and asthma, and as such there is a pressing need to develop therapeutics to specifically treat airway fibrosis. Dr Brian Oliver has partnered with Pharmaxis to develop new therapeutics to specificall ....Airway fibrosis or scaring causes significant morbidity in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma . These diseases affect 10-15% of the population, and cost the health system $1.15 billion per year. Airway fibrosis is not decreased by the current therapeutics used to treat COPD and asthma, and as such there is a pressing need to develop therapeutics to specifically treat airway fibrosis. Dr Brian Oliver has partnered with Pharmaxis to develop new therapeutics to specifically treat fibrosisRead moreRead less