Investigation Of A Novel Role For Factor XIII In Regulating The Adhesive Function Of Platelets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$243,000.00
Summary
Platelets are small specialised blood cells that are extremely important for the normal formation of blood clots and for the repair of injured blood vessels. We are studying the processes that allow platelets to stick to the site of vessel injury and to each other to form stable blood clots. If this process proceeds unchecked, harmful blood clots can form which block blood vessels and cause heart attacks and strokes. There are many factors, both inside and outside platelets, which control how bi ....Platelets are small specialised blood cells that are extremely important for the normal formation of blood clots and for the repair of injured blood vessels. We are studying the processes that allow platelets to stick to the site of vessel injury and to each other to form stable blood clots. If this process proceeds unchecked, harmful blood clots can form which block blood vessels and cause heart attacks and strokes. There are many factors, both inside and outside platelets, which control how big and how fast a blood clot grows and whether it becomes harmful enough to cause a blood vessel blockage. One of these factors is the level of platelet 'stickiness' or 'reactivity'. We are working towards a better understanding of how platelet reactivity is regulated. Specifically, we believe we have identified a new factor which keeps blood clots at a size that is not harmful to cause blood vessel blockade. This information will not only increase our knowledge of blood clot formation in health and disease but also may help in the development of new therapies for the prevention of heart attack and stroke.Read moreRead less
We will investigate how the master control gene, Kruppel-like factor 1, orchestrates production of red blood cells. We will use genetic and cell biology approaches to determine exactly how this factor interprets the genome blueprint in a cell specific manner. We will also determine how mutations in KLF1 cause human diseases such as congenital dyserythropoietic anemia and hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin. This has implications for reactivation of HbF in adults with sickle cell disease.
KLFs are master control genes that regulate the expression of many target genes to determine cell fate and to convert one cell fate to another. Mutations in KLFs cause human diseases. This grant will focus on the founding member of the KLF family, KLF1. We will use genomics techniques and animal models to determine how KLF1 works in normal blood cell production and in disease
Regulation Of The Haemostatic Activity Of Plasma Von Willebrand Factor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,980.00
Summary
Our genes encode proteins that perform the tasks of life. Most proteins are chemically modified after they are made to control how, when, and where they function. Prof Hogg discovered a new chemical modification of proteins that is important in health and disease. He will apply this discovery to develop new diagnostics and therapies for heart attacks and stroke. Prof Hogg is one of the few Australians to take new diagnostics and therapies developed in the lab to evaluation in patients.
The BHLH Transcription Factor LYL1 In Normal And Leukemic Hematopoiesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,945.00
Summary
This project aims to understand how two closely related genes, called SCL and LYL1, work together to control the production of normal red blood cells and when abnormally expressed, cause cancer of the white blood cells. We will specifcially examine how LYL1 causes a specific type of leukemia in children and determine blocking the function of LYL1 will be a useful way to kill leukemia cells.