Using Chromosome Rearrangements As Tumour-specific Markers For Disease Monitoring In Lung Cancer Using Droplet Digital PCR
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,081,335.00
Summary
There are no useful markers apart from CT scans to determine the effectiveness of therapy in patients with lung cancer. We plan to assess highly sensitive methods that can examine the blood to determine whether DNA from the patient’s tumour is present. This will allow more responsive modulation of therapy to enable better management of the cancer.
Personalising Care In Operable Pancreas Cancer. GAP-T: A Study Of Imaging And Molecular Biomarkers To Guide Treatment Of Patients Receiving Preoperative Chemotherapy Followed By Surgery.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,345.00
Summary
We are studying ways to improve how we treat patients with pancreatic cancer. We will use a novel imaging tool, the PET scanner, to show where active cancer is and how quickly and how well a new drug combination (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel) is affecting the cancer. We will also study if measuring the expression of specific proteins (SPARC and hENT1) in the cancer affects the outcome and will allow us to determine ahead of time which patients will benefit most from the drugs.
The Role Chromatin Remodeling Factors In Epigenetic Regulation Of Cardiac Arrhythmia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$854,135.00
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases kill an Australian every 11 minutes. Arrhythmias are of particular alarm since they can lead to significantly higher risk of serious strokes, heart failure, and overall mortality. We combine fruit fly genetics with next generation human genomics approaches to find and functionally validate new genes and mutations regulating arrhythmia in fruit flies and atrial fibrillation in humans, and this work can rapidly identify new avenues to pursue therapeutic intervention
Risk Of Recurrence After Diagnosis Of Invasive Breast Cancer By Molecular Subtype As Defined By ER, PR And Her2 Status
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,622.00
Summary
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Molecular subtypes have been identified that differ in terms of prognosis and response to treatment. This study aims to estimate recurrence free survival of breast cancer by molecular subtypes in a population-based sample of Australian women. The results will assist clinicians to guide their therapeutic decisions and will inform women about their anticipated outcome after diagnosis of breast cancer.
PRECISION: Personalised Risk Evaluation In DCIS, International
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,392,930.00
Summary
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is a common diagnosis with problematic clinical management. This study brings together an international consortium to identify and validate clinical biomarkers of recurrence.
Intraductal Carcinoma Of The Prostate: Indicator Of Aggressive Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$884,377.00
Summary
This proposal addresses the need to improve personalised treatment decisions for men with high risk familial prostate cancer as they have a very aggressive disease progression with a very poor clinical outcome. We will perform biological and pre-clinical studies to improve the clinical diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options for men with germline mutations in BRCA2 or BRCA1 genes who develop prostate cancer.
TDP-43 In The Population In Relation To Dementia: Relationships With Clinical Symptomatology And Other Key Neuropathologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,002.00
Summary
There are over a quarter of a million people with dementia in Australia, and this figure will rise. We still do not understand what goes wrong within the brain to give rise to dementia. This project will assess a new pathology within the brain in relation to late life dementia and the aging process. Results will improve diagnostic tools for dementia and treatments.
Aphasia is a devastating language and communication disorder that occurs in up to 40% of all stroke patients and often results in lifelong disability. This project will determine whether individuals who listen to music daily in addition to receiving usual care, show a better recovery of language than those who only receive usual care. The effect of music listening on cognition, depression, and brain structure and function will be investigated to identify how music stimulates language recovery.
Very Early Rehabilitation In SpEech: An RCT Of Aphasia Therapy After Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$742,000.00
Summary
Aphasia affects one in three stroke survivors. It interferes with talking, understanding speech, reading and writing. Aphasia is devastating. Research suggests that very early aphasia therapy improves recovery of talking and understanding. However, over 70% of people with aphasia do not get very early treatment. This study promotes a “use it” or “lose it” approach to brain recovery and aims to show that very early aphasia therapy is beneficial and cost effective.
Delayed Loss Of Acoustic Hearing After Cochlear Implantation: Mechanisms And Clinical Identification With New Cochlear Implant Technology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,040,157.00
Summary
Natural hearing can be combined with a cochlear implant to improve sound quality and speech understanding. However, natural hearing frequently deteriorates weeks to months after cochlear implantation. This seems to occur when cochlear fluid buildup (hydrops) or fibrosis within the inner ear disrupts cochlear mechanics. We plan to monitor these processes in patients by recording directly from the cochlear implant, and conduct laboratory experiments to find therapies to alleviate their effects.