Investigation Into Host Susceptibility And Immune Responses In Young Children With Acute Wheezing Due To Human Rhinovirus Group C Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,711.00
Summary
We recently made the surprising discovery that a new viral group, human rhinovirus group C (HRV-C), causes the majority of acute asthma in children. We also found that it causes half of the acute wheezing attacks in younger children, and is the only respiratory virus associated with allergy. So, HRV-C may be the key to the relationship between allergy and asthma. The planned project will focus on whether young children who wheeze with HRV-C have related defects in their immune system.
Computational And Statistical Methods For The Analysis Of RNA-Seq Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,545.00
Summary
New sequencing technologies provide medical researchers with ultra high-resolution tools for measuring gene activity in healthy and diseased cells. These instruments generate unprecedented volumes of data that requires careful analysis to maximize the biological insight learned from each experiment. Our research will develop new tools for analyzing, interpreting and making medical discoveries from this rapidly emerging technology, for the benefit of Australian biomedical researchers.
Transcriptome Profiling Of The Human Pathogen Schistosoma Japonicum
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$257,560.00
Summary
The parasitic disease, schistosomiasis, caused by human bloodflukes of the genus Schistosoma, is a major public health issue in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. Current control methods are far from ideal, and a comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms which allow schistosomes to grow, develop and survive within their hosts affords the best prospect for identifying new drug and vaccine targets. Microarray technology allows simultaneous monitoring of thousands of different g ....The parasitic disease, schistosomiasis, caused by human bloodflukes of the genus Schistosoma, is a major public health issue in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. Current control methods are far from ideal, and a comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms which allow schistosomes to grow, develop and survive within their hosts affords the best prospect for identifying new drug and vaccine targets. Microarray technology allows simultaneous monitoring of thousands of different genes, and to determine where and when they are active, thus placing the mass of data generated by genome sequencing programs into a biological and functional context. Microarrays provide a unique, cutting-edge, tool for investigating schistosome biology. We have fabricated a microarray representing some 20,000 schistosome genes. We will use this resource to perform large scale monitoring of schistosome gene expression during the parasite's complex life cycle, targetting the regionally important Asian schistosome, Schistosoma japonicum, for study. This will provide the single largest insight into the genetic changes that occur during schistosome development, will greatly further our understanding of the adaptations needed for the growth, development and survival of the parasite, and will identify genes involved in key biological processes, all of which may be exploitable for future interventions and treatments.Read moreRead less
Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumours, arising in the brain and spinal cord, are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children less than 15 years of age. Medulloblastomas and other primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs) are the most common form of primary childhood brain tumours, accounting for 25-30% of cases. Despite notable recent advances in our understanding of the molecular genetic basis of malignancies, the pathogenesis of CNS PNETs remains obscure. To address this prob ....Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumours, arising in the brain and spinal cord, are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children less than 15 years of age. Medulloblastomas and other primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs) are the most common form of primary childhood brain tumours, accounting for 25-30% of cases. Despite notable recent advances in our understanding of the molecular genetic basis of malignancies, the pathogenesis of CNS PNETs remains obscure. To address this problem, we propose to apply a novel combinatorial approach for the identification of PNET tumour suppressor genes utilising both representational difference analysis (RDA) and microarray expression profiling. Data from this study will help to elucidate the molecular pathways that are compromised in the initiation and growth of PNETs. This information will have direct implications for the development of improved diagnostic and prognostic indicators necessary for the design of more effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of PNET patients.Read moreRead less
I am a molecular biologist determining the mechanisms of eukaryotic mRNA translation and its regulation by RNA-binding proteins and noncoding RNA. In collaborative work I extend these basic science objectives into the medical research areas of cardiology
Array-based Comparative Genomic Hybridisation In Lung Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,773.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer deaths in many Western countries, including ours. Lung cancer is the third leading cause of death of Australians and the fifth leading cause of burden of disease in Australia. In many cases, even with the best treatment available, the lung cancer spreads from where it starts, to other parts of the lung, chest and throughout the body. This eventually leads to death. We are interested in the factors that influence when and how lung cancer spreads. W ....Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer deaths in many Western countries, including ours. Lung cancer is the third leading cause of death of Australians and the fifth leading cause of burden of disease in Australia. In many cases, even with the best treatment available, the lung cancer spreads from where it starts, to other parts of the lung, chest and throughout the body. This eventually leads to death. We are interested in the factors that influence when and how lung cancer spreads. With exposure to cancer-causing agents such as cigarette smoke, parts of the lung may suffer permanent damage that increases the risk of lung cancer. Many of these changes include the genes in air passages and lung tissue. In this study, we will use the latest technology in genetics called gene chips to study changes in genes that affect the spread of lung cancer. These gene chips can study a vast number of genes at once. In particular, we will whether there is an abnormal number of copies of genes in the lung cancer. We hope that this research study will provide new information about the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.Read moreRead less