Development Of Selective Blockers Of Acid Sensing Ion Channel 1a For The Treatment Of Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$702,443.00
Summary
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In addition, stroke causes an extremely high incidence of disability in surviving victims due to the brain damage suffered during stroke. Unfortunately, no effective neuroprotective therapy is currently available for stroke patients. In this project we plan to develop novel neuroprotective agents that are effective even when used many hours after stroke, thus providing a wide therapeutic time window for treatment of stroke patients.
Epigenetic Therapies As Molecular Probes To Investigate The Molecular Pathogenesis Of Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$937,402.00
Summary
A major limitation to the success of targeted therapies in cancer is the fact that we have few if any tools to study in detail their mechanism of action within cancerous and normal cells. If we were able to visualise these drugs within cells and precisely characterise the proteins, DNA and RNA within a cell that interact with these therapies we will be able to identify strategies that can optimise their efficacy and reduce the side-effects of these treatments.
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.
A Pharmacological Targeting Approach Implementing Albumin As A Carrier Of A Novel Chemotherapeutic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,659.00
Summary
New drugs for cancer therapy are essential to develop that overcome resistance to standard chemotherapeutics. We have developed potent anti-cancer chelators that bind to the abundant plasma protein, albumin. Our studies showed increased tumour cell uptake of the chelator, Dp44mT, mediated by albumin. We will elucidate the mechanisms of their albumin-mediated uptake, with the aim to implement albumin nanoparticles as carriers of novel chelators to selectively target tumours.
Molecular Profiling Residual Disease From Early Stage HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemo- And Anti-HER2 Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$467,108.00
Summary
Chemotherapy given prior to surgery can often inform us if a breast tumour is sensitive or resistant to therapy by the amount of disease remaining at time of surgery. We have further shown that the immune response is also important in these patients. In this study we propose to analyse the tumour samples that remain after chemotherapy in order to understand possible resistance mechanisms as well as how the immunity influences survival of HER2-positive breast cancer patients
Development Of Specific Inhibitors Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Gingipains Based On Their Cognate Propeptides
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,655.00
Summary
Gum disease (periodontitis) is an inflammatory disease caused by bacterial pathogens that is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. It is also associated with systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. In this study we will develop novel peptide-based therapeutics to inhibit the proteases that enable these bacteria to cause disease.
ANNEXIN-A1 MIMETICS: A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR TARGETING THE CARDIAC COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$815,185.00
Summary
Diabetes affects almost 2 million Australians, creating an increasing heart failure burden. A/Prof Rebecca Ritchie’s team at Baker IDI are interested in the precise role of cardiac inflammation in the progression of cardiomyopathy resulting from diabetes. Using her exciting discovery that a naturally-occurring anti-inflammatory protein is a key regulator of cardiac muscle cell survival and function, A/Prof Ritchie’s team will develop therapies for diabetic cardiomyopathy based on this protein.
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.
Microtubule Stabilisation: Promoting Adaptive Plasticity, Brain Healing And Functional Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,258.00
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be the leading cause of death and disability for individuals under 45 years of age. There are currently no effective pharmacotherapeutics available that are able to prevent or minimise brain damage following TBI. My team will use sophisticated in vivo techniques to fully characterise the brain's response to injury and to test whether microtubule stabilisation via new generation taxol-like drugs improves post-trauma outcomes.
Optimisation Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Protein Kinase Inhibitors Using Endogenous And Dietary Biomarkers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,360.00
Summary
Many new cancer medicines are part of the 'kinase inhibitor' group of drugs. Although these drugs are effective in treating a range of different cancers, opportunities remain to improve the effectiveness and safety by more intelligently deciding the dose of the drug that a specific individual should receive. The research aims to assess whether the levels of chemicals normally present in the blood of individuals being treated can be used to guide the best dose an individual should receive.