The Role Of The NPY System In The Regulation Of Appetite And Satiety
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,088,384.00
Summary
Eating disorders that have a causative role in the development of obesity and anorexia present massive health care problems for which current preventive methods and therapies are unsatisfactory. The studies proposed here combine sophisticated molecular techniques with state-of-the-art biochemical and physiological analyses. By utilising a panel of unique mouse models (many of which are only available to us), missing or overproducing key factors in the regulation of appetite and satiety this rese ....Eating disorders that have a causative role in the development of obesity and anorexia present massive health care problems for which current preventive methods and therapies are unsatisfactory. The studies proposed here combine sophisticated molecular techniques with state-of-the-art biochemical and physiological analyses. By utilising a panel of unique mouse models (many of which are only available to us), missing or overproducing key factors in the regulation of appetite and satiety this research will make highly original and internationally competitive contributions to the understanding of these disorders. The results will have a significant impact on the development of novel diagnostics and potential treatments for obesity and anorexia. In addition, funding provided through this grant would not only help to find answers to these important questions but will also provide the basis for the generation of several novel mouse models. These animal models will also be beneficial tools for the wider scientific community here in Australia and worldwide. We have a proven record in the generation and comprehensive analysis of transgenic and knockout mice models making this proposal not only feasible but also highly likely to succeed and provide great new insight into extremely important health problems.Read moreRead less
The Regulation Of 14-3-3 Protein Function By Post-translational Modification
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$212,036.00
Summary
The cells of our body have control mechanisms that prevent them from growing abnormally. However, when cells become cancerous they escape the normal checks and controls and are able to survive, divide and grow uncontrollably. In the last decade the molecular basis of several of the control mechanisms involved in preventing cancerous growth have been uncovered. However, our understanding is far from complete and recent research reports suggest that we have thus far overlooked a whole level of reg ....The cells of our body have control mechanisms that prevent them from growing abnormally. However, when cells become cancerous they escape the normal checks and controls and are able to survive, divide and grow uncontrollably. In the last decade the molecular basis of several of the control mechanisms involved in preventing cancerous growth have been uncovered. However, our understanding is far from complete and recent research reports suggest that we have thus far overlooked a whole level of regulation of cell growth control. Signals that instruct a normal cell to divide are propogated by pathways of interacting molecules within the cell. These pathways are regulated by switch mechanisms that either modify the interacting molecules, thereby inactivating their activity or by controlling when and where the molecules are allowed to interact. This spatial and temporal control mechanism is mediated by a family of specialised molecules, called 14-3-3 proteins. Recent research indicates that the function of these 14-3-3 proteins is also tightly controlled, although as yet we don't understand how. This research proposal attempts to discover the molecular mechanism of regulation of 14-3-3 function. An understanding of this process may provide new molecular targets for the development of therapeutics against cancer.Read moreRead less
Evaluation Of Multidisciplinary Care Plans For Patients With Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,500.00
Summary
Care planning for patients with chronic illnesses and complex needs is a major part of the Commonwealth Enhanced Primary Care package. This initiative, announced in late 1999, provides access to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items to remunerate general practitioners, involved in developing multidisciplinary care plans in cooperation with other health care providers. An issue of importance, and the one that this project investigates, is whether disease specific care is addressed in care plans ....Care planning for patients with chronic illnesses and complex needs is a major part of the Commonwealth Enhanced Primary Care package. This initiative, announced in late 1999, provides access to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items to remunerate general practitioners, involved in developing multidisciplinary care plans in cooperation with other health care providers. An issue of importance, and the one that this project investigates, is whether disease specific care is addressed in care plans and whether the care planning process is associated with improved provision and outcomes of care for a specific chronic illness. The chronic illness that has been chosen for this research project is diabetes because of its prevalence in the community, importance in general practice and because there are accepted standards of process and outcomes of care against which diabetes care contained in EPC care plans can be bench marked. Diabetes is estimated to affect 7.5% of the adult Australian population with more than 85% of those affected having type 2 or mature onset diabetes. Increasingly care of type 2 diabetes is provided in primary care under share care arrangements with specialist diabetes services and in a multidisciplinary team approach involving the patient and their carer as well as relevant health professionals. A recent review has shown that there is a lack of evidence on whether multidisciplinary care is associated with improved process and outcomes of diabetes care. The project will involve 50 general practitioners and 200 of their patients with diabetes in South West Sydney. The design of the project involves audit of the care plans to examine the extent and quality of the diabetes care contained in comparison to accepted benchmarks. The project will also audit the patients' medical records for the year of care before and after the care plan. This care will be compared to published guidelines for process of care and goals for outcomes.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of 14-3-3 Monomerisation Controls Cell Life/death Fate
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,770.00
Summary
14-3-3 proteins are becoming increasingly recognised as major multifunctional proteins that control key aspects of normal and pathological processes. Although initially viewed as inert components of signalling, we have now recognised for the first time that these are very dynamic proteins that can be regulated. Our main aim is to understand the regulatory mechanisms controlling the different dynamic forms of 14-3-3 and how each form in turn controls the process of life and death.