A vitamin-sized capsule, containing gas sensors, is to be fully developed for assessing the state of health and diagnosing the diseases relevant to gastrointestinal tract. The capsule travels along the tract, transmitting information about the gas species generated by the microorganisms of the gut, which is closely associated with the health of the human under surveillance. The information will be invaluable for diagnostics and adjusting the diet to mitigate and cure the diseases of the guts.
TBK1 Inhibitors As Novel Therapeutics For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,722.00
Summary
A key feature of rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation in affected joints causing pain and immobility. New drugs that selectively block processes that are dysregulated in rheumatoid arthritis are needed to better treat this disease. The protein called TBK1 is a key regulator of inflammation and we aim to develop drugs that inhibit TBK1 activity thereby blocking the inflammation and symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Innovative Antimicrobial Treatments For Successful Bone Allografts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,706.00
Summary
Bone healing sites are commonly infected, and this is associated with adverse clinical and significant socioeconomic outcomes. These studies will determine whether our novel antimicrobials can be used to reduce bone infections by studying the combination of antimicrobials and bone in laboratory and bone fracture studies whilst minimising the potential of developing antibiotic resistance.
Isoform Selective PI3 Kinase Inhibitors For Cancer, Thrombosis And Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,473.00
Summary
Inhibitors of the PI3 kinase family of enzymes have potential as therapeutics in diseases such as cancer, thrombosis and inflammatory disease. In this project the investigators will develop a new class of PI3 kinase inhibitors they have discovered, optimizing their pharmaceutical properties and evaluating them in models of disease. The aim is to develop a candidate for human clinical studies.
Novel NLRP3 Inhibitors For Steroid Resistant Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$927,117.00
Summary
Asthma causes 40,000 hospitalisations p.a. with 5-10% of asthmatics having severe steroid resistant asthma, a common and debilitating disease, where current treatments do not work. Effective therapies are urgently required. Based on our research, we have novel molecules showing high level of efficacy in models of severe steroid resistant asthma. These molecules will be further investigated to deliver a drug candidate for commercialisation within 3 years.
Peptide Therapeutics For The Treatment Of Autoimmune Diseases: Stability, Delivery And Disposition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,467.00
Summary
Autoimmune diseases affect around 120 million people worldwide. This project will progress the development of a peptide that suppresses disease-causing autoantigen-specific immune responses without affecting protective responses. Different routes of delivery for this peptide will be evaluated, as well as slow-release formulations that will extend its in vivo lifetime. The outcome will be a patient-friendly form of this therapeutic lead that can be taken forward to preclinical evaluation.
Enhanced Deep Brain Stimulation Electrodes For Improved Efficacy In Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$809,940.00
Summary
We are developing an advanced Deep Brain Stimulation system to improve the treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Current devices benefit only half of the patients, due to imprecision in directing the electrical current to the ideal brain targets. Our system aims to deliver the current more selectively. Our implant will contain more and smaller electrodes. We will also use a state-of-the-art stimulator, implantable on the head, with capabilities far beyond the current technology.
Evaluation Of The Safety Of Lead Compounds For Allergic Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,568.00
Summary
Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in developed countries and is typically treated with corticosteroids which provide symptomatic relief and coarse non-specific treatment of the underlying disease. We are pursuing innovative therapies by targeting a different enzyme, HPGD2S, involved in the inflammatory mechanisms of asthma. We have developed potent, anti-inflammatory drug candidates and aim to profile the safety of these compounds before entering clinical studies.
Fighting Blindness With A Minimally Invasive Retinal Stimulator
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$998,194.00
Summary
Retinal degenerative conditions are the leading cause of blindness in developed nations, with over 200 million people afflicted worldwide. Our group has pioneered a minimally-invasive therapeutic stimulator that can arrest retinal degeneration without blocking vision. We are now ready to perform the prerequisite translational studies to develop and test a human-grade device. The ultimate goal is to be the first to develop a commercial therapeutic stimulator that protects against vision loss.
Development Of A Novel Endovascular Therapy For Occlusive Peripheral Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,197.00
Summary
We aim to develop and assess a new medical device for the treatment of diseased arteries. The new device uses an angioplasty balloon coated with a new drug to open narrowed arteries and will enable the arteries to remain open for longer periods and with less likelihood of unwanted side effects from the procedure.