Deregulated Cytokine Signalling As A Molecular Bridge Linking The Pathogenesis Of Emphysema To Lung Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,820.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the most lethal form of cancer in Australia and worldwide. Although smokers with emphysema are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, it is becoming apparent that emphysema can predispose to lung cancer independently of cigarette smoking, albeit by unknown mechanisms. Our aim is to combine smoke carcinogen and genetic mouse models of lung cancer with novel mouse strains displaying emphysema to identify the processes which link the pathogenesis of emphysema to lung cancer.
Imaging Lung Aeration And Lung Motion Following Very Premature Birth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$517,631.00
Summary
Using a synchrotron as an X-ray source, we will image the lungs as they aerate at birth and optimise ventilation strategies that improve lung aeration while minimising the risk of ventilation-induced lung injury.
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
Genomic Profiling To Predict Lung Cancer Metastases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$323,500.00
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. We hope that this research study will provide new information about the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.Read moreRead less
Determinants Of Circulating Surfactant Protein Levels In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$276,221.00
Summary
The lung allows the oxygenation of blood and clearance of carbon dioxide. To achieve this a large surface area (50-100 m2) interfaces with a complex microcirculation across a 0.1-0.2 ?m barrier - the alveolocapillary membrane. The alveolocapillary membrane is damaged under a variety of circumstances, of varying severity. Whereas severe impairment results in respiratory failure, often there is no clear delineation between OacceptableO and OpathologicalO changes. Therefore, we have coined the term ....The lung allows the oxygenation of blood and clearance of carbon dioxide. To achieve this a large surface area (50-100 m2) interfaces with a complex microcirculation across a 0.1-0.2 ?m barrier - the alveolocapillary membrane. The alveolocapillary membrane is damaged under a variety of circumstances, of varying severity. Whereas severe impairment results in respiratory failure, often there is no clear delineation between OacceptableO and OpathologicalO changes. Therefore, we have coined the term Olung healthO to encompass the broad spectrum. Generally speaking, lung health can be compromised by lifestyle or disease. Whereas lifestyle changes are typically progressive and chronic, those associated with disease tend to be severe and acute. Monitoring lung health clearly has important implications in terms of occupational health and lifestyle issues, including smoking. The need for a marker of lung permeability is also regarded as the Oholy grailO in the intensive care setting. Currently, there is no way of doing so. The alveolus is lined with a liquid layer into which is secreted a complex mixture of lipids and specific proteins known as alveolar surfactant. Surfactant reduces the work of breathing. Recently, we fortuitously discovered that surfactant proteins leak into the circulation and that changes in their levels are a sensitive and early generic index of the lung?s integrity. We discovered that lung damage from conditions as diverse as smoking to the acute respiratory distress syndrome elevate circulating surfactant proteins levels. To refine our discovery we aim to: Improve the techniques used to measure the proteins Study the rate at which they enter and clear the circulation Study the influence of storage, gender, age, circadian rhythm, and smoking on the levels Study the levels in acute lung injury and in radiotherapy and cytotoxic drug treatment where the ability to monitor lung damage has immediate benefit for the patients.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Glucocorticoids, Retinol And CAMP Signaling In Lung Development And Neonatal Respiratory Dysfunction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,000.00
Summary
Underdeveloped lungs at birth and adult lung diseases (ie emphysema, acute resipratory distress, and asthma) are a major cause of hopitalization and death. The World Health Organization ranks resipratory diseases at number 6 in the global burden of disease. Preterm birth with associated respiratory complications occurs in about 10% of all human births and accounts for 75% of neonatal deaths not associated with congenital abnormalities . Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is a major complication ....Underdeveloped lungs at birth and adult lung diseases (ie emphysema, acute resipratory distress, and asthma) are a major cause of hopitalization and death. The World Health Organization ranks resipratory diseases at number 6 in the global burden of disease. Preterm birth with associated respiratory complications occurs in about 10% of all human births and accounts for 75% of neonatal deaths not associated with congenital abnormalities . Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is a major complication in preterm births and the routine antenatal treatment of glucocorticoids has a major benefit in reducing incidence of RDS leading to decreased neonatal mortality. Glucocorticoids improve lung maturation yet their exact detailed role is not fully understood. Other systemic hormones and factors , such as vitamin A (precursor for retinoic acid) are also important in regulating, completing and maintaining proper lung development and function. Vitamin A deficiency alters lung structure and function, and is believed to be a causal factor in chronic lung diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, frequently problematic to infants. Detailed understanding of how these hormones work in the lung is critical to the future improvement of treatments for respiratory distress at birth and other respiratory conditions (emphysema, asthma) during adult life. We have developed a number of mouse models to study how these hormones work in the lung and allows us to perform investigations not possible in the human system. Using these mouse models of hormone resistance for glucocorticoids, retinoic acid (vitamin A) and cAMP signaling we will study in detail how these hormones work in the developing lung. Outcomes will be detailed knowledge and mechanisms of action that are critical for the design and testing of novel agents and therapies for immature lungs at birth and in adult lung dysfunction and diseaseRead moreRead less
The Scientific Basis For The Integration Of Surgery And Immunotherapy For Lung Malignancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$516,394.00
Summary
The work in this grant focuses on the effects of cancer surgery (tumor resection and removal of lymph nodes) on the anti-cancer immune response. It also examines whether delivery of agents into the residual tumour bed following surgery can effectively boost the effects of surgery on the immune system. The results obtained will help guide the rational design of future combination surgery-immunotherapy treatment regimens.