Examining novel cell signalling in the regulation of platelet structure and function. Pharmaceutical inhibition of platelet function is the primary therapy for prevention of arterial thrombosis – the most common cause of death and disability in Australia. However, current therapies have limited efficacy. Defining platelet activation mechanisms in order to rationalise more effective antithrombotic approaches is the major focus of this research. This project describes the first studies to examine ....Examining novel cell signalling in the regulation of platelet structure and function. Pharmaceutical inhibition of platelet function is the primary therapy for prevention of arterial thrombosis – the most common cause of death and disability in Australia. However, current therapies have limited efficacy. Defining platelet activation mechanisms in order to rationalise more effective antithrombotic approaches is the major focus of this research. This project describes the first studies to examine the importance of a family of intracellular signalling enzymes, the Class II phosphoinositide 3-kinases, in platelet function. These studies will define the contribution of these enzymes to platelet production and function and will establish whether their inhibition is an attractive strategy for the prevention of arterial thrombosis.Read moreRead less
The discovery and characterisation of novel protein regulators of blood cell formation. All of the mature blood cells in the human body are derived from a common ancestor cell type known as a stem cell. Our proposed studies will enhance our knowledge of how functional, mature blood cells are formed from stem cells and how dysregulation of these normally tightly controlled pathways can give rise to severe blood diseases.
Inhibiting pathological signalling in haematopoietic disease. Certain leukaemias and other blood diseases are caused by the mutation of one particular molecule, called Janus Kinase (JAK), inside our bodies. This project aims to understand the biochemical details of these diseases by studying this mutated molecule in detail. The project will aim to provide the information for developing effective therapeutics against these diseases.