Development of small molecule primary sulfonamides as new drugs for malaria. Malaria is a major global health threat, causing approximately 800,000 deaths annually. Lives can be saved if patients are treated. The use of current antimalarial drugs is limited by drug resistance, low activity and poor safety. This project investigates the effectiveness of a new class of molecule as a safe drug treatment option to kill malaria parasites.
Rational design of new drug candidates for the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. There is a serious shortage of safe and effective drugs to treat Chagas disease which is caused by a parasitic infection. This project aims to design and identify new drug candidates by defining the disposition profile within the body which is necessary to achieve a therapeutic effect.
Translating pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data to better design new drugs for the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. New drugs to treat T. cruzi infection are urgently needed, however their design has been hampered by an incomplete understanding of complex host-parasite interactions, inadequate in vitro and in vivo tools to rigorously define activity during drug discovery, and a poor appreciation of concentration/effect relationships. This project aims to develop new and much needed ....Translating pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data to better design new drugs for the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. New drugs to treat T. cruzi infection are urgently needed, however their design has been hampered by an incomplete understanding of complex host-parasite interactions, inadequate in vitro and in vivo tools to rigorously define activity during drug discovery, and a poor appreciation of concentration/effect relationships. This project aims to develop new and much needed in vitro methods to better define the kinetic and dynamic activity of new drug candidates, and will provide a rational basis for translating this information into lengthy animal models of T. cruzi infection. The outcome aims to be rationally designed drug candidates that are available in a shorter period of time and are suitable for further development.Read moreRead less
Chemical probes to dissect the cell cycle of globally important parasites . This project aims to develop new reagents, called chemical probes, to visualise key biological events in globally important pathogens. We will use innovative chemistry to modify the building blocks of DNA and provide researchers with essential tools to 'see' DNA synthesis in order to study growth and replication of pathogens in combination with microscopy. This project expects to support a major technical advance that wi ....Chemical probes to dissect the cell cycle of globally important parasites . This project aims to develop new reagents, called chemical probes, to visualise key biological events in globally important pathogens. We will use innovative chemistry to modify the building blocks of DNA and provide researchers with essential tools to 'see' DNA synthesis in order to study growth and replication of pathogens in combination with microscopy. This project expects to support a major technical advance that will address important gaps in our understanding of many pathogens (e.g. those that cause malaria and tuberculosis), at both the cellular and molecular levels. This should provide significant benefits by enabling researchers worldwide to identify new intervention opportunities that target unique aspects of pathogen biology.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of a new class of antimicrobial agent for multidrug-resistant infections. New drugs are required to combat the development of antibiotic resistance. This project will conduct further tests on a new compound that has shown initial activity against resistant superbugs by understanding how it works against bacteria and varying the chemical structure to improve effectiveness.
Screening platforms for malaria drug discovery: identification of new therapeutics. Innovative image based technologies will be developed to identify molecules which stop malaria parasite growth and its transmission to the mosquito host. As more resistance is emerging against the current drugs of choice, new molecules acting through different mechanisms are urgently needed.
Programmed cell death regulates the fate of cells during development and adult life. Working at the frontier of biology and chemistry, I lead research programs committed to uncovering cell death processes implicated in a wide range of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases and tissue damage. I will develop novel small molecules that will act as powerful tools to increase our understanding of how cell death participates in these conditions and help develop new drugs to treat them.
Development Of Small Molecule Modulators Of Apoptosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,558.00
Summary
Cancers rely on the deregulation of key cellular pathways. Along with biological and genetic tools, small molecules are powerful probes to understand these mechanisms. During the course of this research program, we will develop new and drug-like molecules that reinstate the cell death process to combat malignancies. This research will bring important advances for potential chemotherapies and create probes to better understand the biology of programmed cell death processes.
An Exploration Of The Interface Between Indigenous Knowledge And Anti-cancer Potential Of Traditionally Used Plants.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$308,954.00
Summary
This research is directed towards embedding a model that enables the integration of Indigenous and Western-scientific knowledge of medicinal plants with anti-cancer properties or desirable bioactivities which may be associated with relieving the side effects of cancer treatment. Improved relationship and capacity building will be achieved through social engagement activties between Indigenous and Western researchers by teaching scientific related skills and knowledge related to practices conduct ....This research is directed towards embedding a model that enables the integration of Indigenous and Western-scientific knowledge of medicinal plants with anti-cancer properties or desirable bioactivities which may be associated with relieving the side effects of cancer treatment. Improved relationship and capacity building will be achieved through social engagement activties between Indigenous and Western researchers by teaching scientific related skills and knowledge related to practices conducted on traditional homelands.Read moreRead less
Isolation And Pre-clinical Evaluation Of Small Molecule Anti-inflammatory Compounds From Hookworms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,891.00
Summary
This project will harness the unique ability of hookworm small molecules (<10 kDa) to modulate inflammation, and exploit these properties to develop novel modalities to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, using millennia of host-parasite coevolution as a guide. The excretory/secretory and somatic extracts will be assessed for their anti-inflammatory properties using TNBS mouse model. Compounds will be separated using HPLC and identified using MS and NMR spectroscopy.