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Helminth Secreted Proteins – From Anthelmintic Vaccines To Therapies For Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$739,893.00
Summary
Human helminths (worms) cause chronic disease in developing countries, yet their disappearance from developed countries has been accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of autoimmune and allergic diseases. My resesarch focuses on the proteins these worms secrete and their use in (1) the development of anthelmintic vaccines, and (2) the development of novel anti-inflammatory molecules to treat autoimmunity, particularly diseases affecting the gut.
Developmental Programming: Mechanisms And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$705,501.00
Summary
Disturbances during pregnancy can impact on developmental processes and result in increased risk of disease in later life. This project will examine the impact of perturbations such as maternal stress or alcohol consumption on the development of the placenta and fetal kidney. By gaining an understanding of how these organs are affected by prenatal insults, we are likely to be able to develop more effective intervention strategies to ensure all babies receive a healthy start to life.
Understanding And Preventing Adverse Developmental Effects Of Perinatal Infection/inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,458.00
Summary
Exposure of babies to infection or inflammation within the womb is common and is associated with preterm delivery and illness in newborns. The biggest problem for these babies is lung disease due to inflammation of the lungs before birth and/or in response to lung injury after birth. We are investigating how inflammation alters lung development, and working on developing a novel cell therapy to prevent life-threatening newborn lung disease.
The amygdala is a part of the brain that processes and lays down emotional memories. Dysfunction in the amygdala is responsible for anxiety related disorders such post-traumatic stress disorder. I will study the neural circuits in the amygdala using innovative recordings and stimulation techniques. These studies will provide insight into the circuits that underpin anxiety related neurological disorders and provide targets for development of novel anxiolytic agents.
Infertility remains a devastating disease for many couples, despite the success of IVF, as treatment is often unsuccessful, or remains out-of-reach for both health and/or financial reasons. My fellowship aims to improve our understanding of some of the causes of infertility in women. This will translate to a new infertility treatment that is safer for their health and provides for improved long-term health outcomes for their children.
Interfacing Epidemiology With Systems Biology For Disease Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,975.00
Summary
Over recent time, allergic and some autoimmune diseases have increased among modern children. The change has been too rapid to be due to genetic factors alone and my research program examines also the role of the changing environment. It also examines the health effects of new man-made exposures like plastic product chemicals.
Development Of New Therapies For Respiratory Diseases And Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$847,490.00
Summary
Prof Hansbro’s group have developed world 1st experimental models of emphysema, severe asthma infection and lung cancer. He uses them to further our understanding of these untreatable diseases. This has led to the development of new potential therapeutic approaches. Now, in discovery programs he will expand studies of pathogenesis to identify new therapeutic targets these diseases. In development and translational programs he will progress new therapies towards clinical application.
Helminth Secretomes: From Vaccines To Novel Anti-inflammatory Biologics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$938,910.00
Summary
Billions of people in developing countries are infected with parasitic worms, but they have been eradicated from industrialised nations. Humans co-evolved with worms, so their recent removal has deprived us of signals required to keep inflammation in check. My research focuses on worm molecules that can be used to (1) develop vaccines to combat these parasitic infections in developing countries, and (2) as a novel platform of anti-inflammatory therapeutics for use in industrialised nations.
Implementing Neuroprotective Strategies For Fetal Growth Restriction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,370.00
Summary
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a serious and common complication of pregnancy that is a principal cause of injury to the developing fetal brain. In turn, damage to the developing brain during pregnancy may cause cerebral palsy and other cognitive and behavioural deficits. This proposal builds on my work to date characterising the mechanisms that contribute to neuropathology in FGR infants, by implementing targeted strategies to protect or repair the FGR brain.
Understanding the immune response is proving extremely complex and promising results for disease treatments from animal models are often difficult to translate to new clinical therapies. My research is unearthing weaknesses in our current knowledge of the immune system and seeking to replace them with a foundation that can exploit new developments in computer modelling and systems biology. In this way I aim to rationally manipulate the immune response.