Investigation Of Novel Triterpenoids As New Potent AMPK Activators For The Treatment Of Insulin Resistant States
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$574,075.00
Summary
Type 2 Diabetes has major economic and health implications. Current medications are inadequate or have serious adverse effects. Triterpenoids have been used in traditional medicines for various diseases. This project builds on our recent discovery of novel triterpenoids with antidiabetic properties to investigate their efficacy and mechanisms of action. The results will provide valuable information about this class of molecules as potential new therapeutics for Type 2 diabetes.
VCAM-targeted Delivery Of Recombinant CD39 To The Endothelium Is Antithrombotic, Antiinflammatory And Ameliorates Ischaemia Reperfusion Injury.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,327.00
Summary
Blockage of arteries with clots leads to heart attacks and strokes. Reestablishment of blood supply by clot-busting drugs or mechanical interventions paradoxically causes further organ injury. This is due to toxic chemicals generated by inflammatory processes and free oxygen radicals. We have created an unique drug that selectively targets blood vessels that are injured by process. The drug will deliver blood-thinning activity and reduce inflammatory stress selectively at the site of need.
The Retina As A Chemogenetic Target For The Treatment Of Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
Treatments for depression are often poor because they lack selectivity. By inserting receptors that respond to an inert drug, Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) can turn on-or-off very specific classes of cells, providing an exciting treatment direction for depression and other neuropsychiatric diseases. The long term goal of this project is to create a highly effective DREADD-based treatment for depression, which is activated by either eye drops or a pill.
Development Of Systemic Therapies To Improve Response And Prevent Resistance In The Treatment Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$569,219.00
Summary
This program of research utilises the unique resources at Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) to understand the biology of prolonged response and resistance to novel drug therapies used in metastatic melanoma, a cancer that now leads the field in the discovery of new targets for therapeutic manipulation. This program also aims to create new methods to efficiently test and develop drug therapy combinations in humans to improve patient outcomes further or prevent metastatic melanoma altogether.
Risk Stratification And Early Interventions In Pulmonary Vascular Disease: From Acute Pulmonary Embolisms To Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,682.00
Summary
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common, potentially life-threatening condition with up to 50% of survivors developing long-term complications, which are associated with breathlessness, functional limitation and risk of premature death if not diagnosed and treated promptly. This project investigates the use of non-invasive scan techniques and exercise testing for early detection of these complications. The project will also explore new drug targets to treat these complications.
Personalised Treatment In Melanoma: Matching Optimal Drug Therapies For Individual Patients To Improve Survival.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,743.00
Summary
The best treatment for melanoma currently is immunotherapy. However, most patients become resistant to immunotherapy after an initial response. When this occurs, patients are treated with new medications, often in a clinical trial. Unfortunately, doctors cannot predict if a patient is going to respond to a particular new treatment. This project will study the makeup of individual melanomas and use this to recommend which new treatment is most likely to work for the patient.
A Phase I Study Of The First In Class Dual IMiD/bromodomain Inhibitor N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) In Relapsed And Refractory Multiple Myeloma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$551,061.00
Summary
We have newly discovered that a simple molecule called NMP has the ability to control myeloma cells that have become resistant to other available treatments. NMP works by enhancing immune function and by killing myeloma cells directly by inhibiting survival signals. NMP is different from all other types of available myeloma treatments. We intend to test the safety and power of NMP in the treatment of myeloma by running a clinical trial of NMP in patients with relapsed myeloma.
Development Of A Novel Drug For Chronic And Infected Wounds
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,362.00
Summary
Chronic wounds affect more than 9 million people worldwide and demand for wound care is increasing. The annual cost to healthcare systems in the US and Australia in treating such wounds is US$25 billion and AU$3 billion, respectively, and there is urgent need for more effective approaches.
The Effects Of Oxytocin On Social Cognition In Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,631.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is characterised by problems with social cognition. These problems are associated with an increased risk of low educational attainment, unemployment, homelessness, social isolation, and reduced quality of life. This project will determine whether a novel biological intervention, Oxytocin, improves social interaction behaviour skills in schizophrenia. This project, therefore, represents a critical first step in developing a new treatment for schizophrenia.
Combinatorial Therapeutics In High-risk Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,891.00
Summary
Modern therapies for children with leukaemia are curative in more than 90%. In contrast, survival for infants less than one year of age at the time of diagnosis is less than 50%. Better therapies are desperately needed. From laboratory testing we have discovered effective novel cancer drugs, which are not currently used for treatment of babies with leukaemia. We will evaluate novel drug combinations and test them in model systems, such that they can be fast-tracked to the clinic.