What drives the pain associated with inflammation is unknown as is the relationship between pain and the extent of tissue damage associated with disease, for example, arthritis. Our laboratory has shown that a particular protein is a key mediator of inflammatory pain. The project is to understand how this particular protein promotes pain, including how it sensitzes neurons.
Proatherogenic CD4 NKT Cells And Atherosclerosis: Molecular Mechanisms And Therapeutic Strategies For Suppression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$504,348.00
Summary
Immune cells called CD4+ iNKT cells are known to be activated by lipids which initiate development of atherosclerosis, a disorder of blood vessels which is responsible for most heart attacks and strokes. We aim to investigate how these cells contribute to the development of this important blood vessel disoder and examine potential ways of inhibiting their activation to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Developmental-associated Dysregulation Of Innate Anti-microbial Immunity In Early Life As A Determinant Of Susceptibility To Atopic Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,334.00
Summary
Previous NHMRC-sponsored research from the applicants has demonstrated that one of the strongest risk factors for subsequent development of asthma is having chest infections during infancy that are so severe that they trigger symptoms of fever and wheeze. It is not known what predisposes susceptible infants to these severe infections, and this project will attempt to define the mechanisms of susceptibility.
Discovery And Characterisation Of Novel Tick Evasins As Inhibitors Of Chemokine-mediated Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$654,847.00
Summary
An important aspect of inflammatory diseases is the migration of white blood cells into the affected tissues. This is controlled by a group of proteins called chemokines. Ticks, which live on mammalian hosts, produce proteins called evasins, which interact with host chemokines and thereby prevent inflammatory responses. This project will discover new tick evasins, study their chemokine interactions and investigate their ability to block inflammation in allergic asthma.
Nitric Oxide On Cardio Pulmonary Bypass In Congenital Heart Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,878,889.00
Summary
Children undergoing open heart surgery on a heart lung machine can experience serious side effects from the exposure to the artificial circulation during surgery and may have either prolonged need for life support in intensive care or even may suffer from long term complications. In this study we investigate the use of a new approach using nitric oxide, a anti-inflammatory gas, during surgery to reduce these side effects.
G-CSF: A Pathogenic Effector In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease And Its Comorbidities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,241,551.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an incurable lung disease that is a huge global health burden, and new therapies are urgently needed. We have recently discovered a possible cause of COPD. This single factor also appears to drive other associated medical problems that are the biggest contributors to patient deterioration. Using advanced genetics, biochemistry and molecular methods we are searching for ways to turn our discovery into effective treatments for this fatal disease.
P2X7 Receptor And Inflammation In The Pathophysiology Of Mood Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,063.00
Summary
Mood disorders are chronic disabling mental illnesses affecting a significant proportion of the population. Inherited variations in a particular gene involved in inflammation will be investigated in individuals with mood disorders. This work aims to understand the relationship between inflammation of parts of the brain and mood disorders leading to the potential development of a new therapeutic target.
Effect Of A Four-food Elimination Diet In Children With Eosinophilic Oesophagitis – A Multi-centre, Randomised Controlled Trial And Investigation Of Disease Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,792.00
Summary
Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EO) is a recently recognised form of allergic inflammation in the oesophagus. EO is increasingly common in childhood and often linked to food allergy. Its treatment in children mainly relies on complex elimination diets or a liquid elemental formula which may require tube feeding due to poor taste. This Australian multi-centre trial will assess the effects of a four-food elimination diet in children with EO and will investigate novel disease mechanisms.
Protecting Hearing During Surgery -an Experimental And Clinical Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$723,048.00
Summary
Both hearing and balance are vulnerable during ear surgery, and the loss of either carries a heavy personal, social and economic cost. We have developed new ways of protecting the ear during surgery, though either the local delivery of medication to the inner ear or by injection. The clinical protocol will be developed in the laboratory and tested in a clinical trial. This research will stand to benefit all people undergoing major operation on their ear, and especially cochlear implant candidate ....Both hearing and balance are vulnerable during ear surgery, and the loss of either carries a heavy personal, social and economic cost. We have developed new ways of protecting the ear during surgery, though either the local delivery of medication to the inner ear or by injection. The clinical protocol will be developed in the laboratory and tested in a clinical trial. This research will stand to benefit all people undergoing major operation on their ear, and especially cochlear implant candidates with residual hearing.Read moreRead less
Profiling Global Inflammatory Signatures For GPCRs In Human Macrophages
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,770.00
Summary
Macrophages are important white blood cells of the immune system. They trigger inflammatory responses to infection or injury, but prolonged inflammatory responses can lead to chronic diseases. In this project we aim to better understand how macrophages sense the outside environment, how external signals trigger inflammatory processes, how this leads to diseases such as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and how to control them with drugs.