We discovered, characterised and commercialised Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1/GDF15) for human therapy. Its blood level predicts death from cancer, heart attack/stroke and other diseases. This study will add important information for understandg the actions of this important protein
Cancer Anorexia/cachexia: Mechanisms For Anorexia And Appetite Regulation By Tumour Derived MIC-1/GDF15
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,060.00
Summary
We have recently discovered that MIC-1 is a new appetite suppressive agent which when overproduced in some diseases like cancer, causes severe weight loss. This project sets out to determine the mechanisms it employs in regulation of appetite centres in the brain.
Intervention To Reduce The Risk Of Diabetic Retinopathy And Early Adverse Retinal Changes In Type 1 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,294,846.00
Summary
The long term effects of young onset T1D may be devastating: diabetes is the leading cause of visual loss in young adults in Australia and other countries. We have the unique opportunity to investigate whether ACEI and statins will modify retinopathy through our collaboration with an already funded international multicentre trial. This study will treat adolescents for 4 years and will follow them for the next 5-10 years. We will use novel measures of retinal blood vessels size and fractals.
Epigenetic Mechanisms Of Dysregulated Immune Function In Autoimmune And Allergic Disease Of Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,298.00
Summary
The rising incidence of autoimmune and allergic diseases is ascribed to the environment, which can modify the chemistry of DNA and how our genes work (epigenetics). We aim to identify epigenetic changes in immune cells in infants at risk for type 1 diabetes and food allergy followed from birth. This may reveal both general and disease-specific levels of epigenetic-immune dysregulation and is a foundation on which to understand potentially modifiable environment-gene interactions.
Free-Living Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery For Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Long-term Multi-centre Randomized Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,041,986.00
Summary
Closed loop technology for automating the delivery of insulin to patients with Type 1 diabetes has the potential to improve the lives of many with the disease. Though early prototypes are currently under evaluation in small studies, no studies have yet to date applied the technology in a large scale randomised trial. We propose to undertake such a study in order to demonstrate the utility of this technology and facilitate its eventual routine and widespread use in the community in the future.
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.
Controlling Life And Death Of Dendritic Cell Subsets For Immunomodulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$639,577.00
Summary
Dendritic cells are pivotal in orchestrating immune responses; for example, they can turn immune cells into assassins to kill virus infections. Their function is so diverse that different dendritic cells do different jobs. There are many genes that control life and death of cells but those that are important for each specialised dendritic cell have not been comprehensively studied. Drugs that affect the proteins made by such genes selectively may be a new way of controlling immune responses.
The Cell Death Mechanisms That Control Regulatory T Cell Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,782.00
Summary
A central question in immunology is how to prevent destructive immune responses (e.g. autoimmune disease) and initiate productive immune responses (e.g. against cancer). A major breakthrough in this area was the discovery of special immune cells, called a Regulatory T Cells. We propose to discover the genes that determine whether these cells live and die. We will use this information to control appropriate numbers and function of Regulatory T Cells to modify the immune system.
Manipulating The Balance Of Effector And Regulatory T Cells To Promote Islet Xenograft Survival
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,542,601.00
Summary
Type 1 diabetes destroys the body’s insulin-producing cells (islets), resulting in high blood sugar levels and the prospect of devastating complications. Replacement of islets by transplantation is the only way to restore normal blood sugar control, but (i) is limited by the shortage of human donors and (ii) carries risks associated with anti-rejection drugs. This project aims to solve both problems by using humanized pigs as donors combined with a novel approach to inducing tolerance to the tra ....Type 1 diabetes destroys the body’s insulin-producing cells (islets), resulting in high blood sugar levels and the prospect of devastating complications. Replacement of islets by transplantation is the only way to restore normal blood sugar control, but (i) is limited by the shortage of human donors and (ii) carries risks associated with anti-rejection drugs. This project aims to solve both problems by using humanized pigs as donors combined with a novel approach to inducing tolerance to the transplanted islets.Read moreRead less
Repurposing JAK Inhibitors To Treat Type 1 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$947,874.00
Summary
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells have to respond to molecules called cytokines for T cells to be able to kill them. We have identified a drug, called a JAK inhibitor, which will block the effects of cytokines on beta cells and cells of the immune system. The goal of this work is perform pre-clinical assessment of this drug, and test whether it has effects on type 1 diabetes in people.