Differential Cooperation Of MAPKs With TGF-beta Signaling In Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$497,250.00
Summary
Tumor metastasis - the spread of tumor cells from the original site of growth to other sites in the body, is the biggest threat to survival for patients with solid tumors. The most damage change during cancer progression is the switch from a locally growing tumor to a metastastic killer. For biologist studying cancer, a major challenge is to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the switch of non-invasive tumor to an invasive, metastatic state. This application aims to identi ....Tumor metastasis - the spread of tumor cells from the original site of growth to other sites in the body, is the biggest threat to survival for patients with solid tumors. The most damage change during cancer progression is the switch from a locally growing tumor to a metastastic killer. For biologist studying cancer, a major challenge is to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the switch of non-invasive tumor to an invasive, metastatic state. This application aims to identify key molecular and cellular mechanism controlling this switch, with the ultimate aim being to devise treatments that inhibit tumor metastasis. The results from this work will provide clear and specific targets to prevent and to treat tumor metastasis. More importantly, the success of strategies used in this work can potentially be used clinically for tumor treatment.Read moreRead less
Defining The Role Of GILZ In Inflammatory Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$675,030.00
Summary
Corticosteroids are commonly used to treat inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Their action is based on effects on natural inflammation control pathways. One such pathway is that mediated by the protein known as GILZ (glucocorticoid induced leucine zipper). The function of this protein in disease is not well understood, and the research proposed here will increase understanding of its role. This knowledge could yield new treatments for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
In a human body, about a million cells are born every second, and a million die by activating a physiological cell death mechanism. If cell death fails to occur, cells accumulate and can develop into cancers. Determining the mechanism and regulation of physiological cell death will provide novel approaches to treat cancers and auto-immune diseases, both of which are characterised by failure of certain cells to die.