Integrative Bioinformatic And Experimental Approaches To Define Novel Roles For Genes That Typically Regulate Axon Guidance In Pancreatic Cancer Initiation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,955.00
Summary
Early detection and intervention would have a dramatic effect on improving the outcomes for pancreatic cancer. This however relies on understanding how the cancer is initiated. New analysis of more than 100 tumours identified aberrations in genes that typically regulate how the nervous system is positioned during development. We want to use novel bioinformatic approaches and a unique experimental method with cells in culture to rapidly and accurately find out which of these genes drives a normal ....Early detection and intervention would have a dramatic effect on improving the outcomes for pancreatic cancer. This however relies on understanding how the cancer is initiated. New analysis of more than 100 tumours identified aberrations in genes that typically regulate how the nervous system is positioned during development. We want to use novel bioinformatic approaches and a unique experimental method with cells in culture to rapidly and accurately find out which of these genes drives a normal pancreatic cell to become a tumour cell.Read moreRead less
Genetic And Metabolic Control Of Pancreatic Acinar To Beta Cell Transdifferentiation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,817.00
Summary
Diabetes occurs when the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin are destroyed by the immune system or fail to keep up with demand. We have developed a method for converting other pancreatic cell types into insulin producing cells. The proposed research aims to improve the efficiency of our approach and to test its therapeutic potential in preclinical diabetes models.
ACTIVATION OF ISLET INFLAMMATION BY CYTOKINE SIGNALING IN PANCREATIC BETA CELLS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,838.00
Summary
Type 1 diabetes affects up to 4.7 million people world-wide and its incidence is increasing. It is the result of killing of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells by cells of the immune system. This project aims to understand how immune cell invasion of the pancreas can become worse because of protein interactions that occur within beta cells, and how these cells can contribute to their own demise.
IL-22 As A Suppressor Of Pancreatic ?-Cell Stress And A Treatment For Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$854,490.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes occurs when pancreatic beta cells fail to produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. We have discovered that the IL-22 protein produced by immune cells protects beta cells from stress. Diabetic mice given IL-22 show restored control of blood sugar levels. The proposed research will take steps to safely introduce IL-22 based therapy into the clinic and gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of action of IL-22.