Development And Validation Of A Latent Tuberculosis Diagnostic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,865.00
Summary
Globally, tuberculosis is a leading cause of death with 9.6 million new diagnoses in 2014. The diagnosis of latent TB infection is important, but is difficult to make because current assays are suboptimal. We have developed a very simple assay which detects responses to TB antigens by co-expression of two surface markers expressed by CD4+ T cells. We propose to develop this into a highly standardised kit for the diagnosis of TB with our commercial partner Cytognos.
Functional Contribution Of Fetal Microchimeric Cells In Transgenic Models Of Maternal Tissue Repair In And After Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$542,462.00
Summary
Fetal stem cells cross into the mother during pregnancy and persist lifelong in her tissues. To determine whether helpful or harmful, we will study how these cells contribute to healing both after acute injury and in chronic genetic models like brittle-bone disease and muscular dystrophy. This research will inform long-term consequences of pregnancy, important for women's health and longevity, and help develop a promising form of stem cell therapy.
A Phase I Study Of PiggyBac CD19 Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells For Therapy Of Persistent And Relapsed B-cell Leukaemia And Lymphoma Post Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (The CARTELL Study).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,590.00
Summary
Most people with relapsed leukaemia and lymphoma after bone marrow transplant die of their disease. Inserting special genes into immune cells can enable them to kill leukaemia and lymphoma and has led to dramatic cures, but there is little experience in bone marrow transplant patients. We will make leukaemia and lymphoma specific immune cells from normal bone marrow transplant donors, then administer the immune cells to transplant patients to assess their safety and effectiveness.
Modelling TRPV4 Skeletal Disorders Using Human IPSCs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,171,187.00
Summary
Inherited skeletal disorders are a significant disease burden. Many gene mutations have been defined but we only have limited understanding about how they cause the disease. We will use patient skin cells and new in vitro re-programing technology to induce them to form cartilage cells to produce “disease in a dish” models of human skeletal disorders. These models will allow us to answer questions about how specific mutations cause disease and identify potential therapies
A Randomised Trial Of Rapid Point-of-care Tests For Chlamydia And Gonorrhoea Infections In Remote Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$788,624.00
Summary
This project will trial a new kind of test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea that can provide immediate results at the time of clinical consultation. The trial will take place in remote Aboriginal communities. These tests have the potential to reduce re-infection rates by ensuring that people with infection have timely treatment. Health services will undertake standard practice in one year, and supplement standard practice by rapid point-of-care testing in the other year in a randomly assigned order.
Tuning mesenchymal stem cell lifespan, performance, and differentiation. This project aims to fully characterise a unique molecular process that strongly modulates mesenchymal stem cell lifespan and behaviour. This work is significant, as it is expected to reveal new concepts underpinning the mechanistic actions of classical structural proteins. It will also shape a more nuanced understanding of the context-dependent mechanical and biochemical signals that regulate stem cell fate and function. E ....Tuning mesenchymal stem cell lifespan, performance, and differentiation. This project aims to fully characterise a unique molecular process that strongly modulates mesenchymal stem cell lifespan and behaviour. This work is significant, as it is expected to reveal new concepts underpinning the mechanistic actions of classical structural proteins. It will also shape a more nuanced understanding of the context-dependent mechanical and biochemical signals that regulate stem cell fate and function. Expected outcomes include new knowledge surrounding native extracellular matrix and stem cell biology, and the development of strategies to define and tailor stem cell properties. This work is anticipated to drive new technologies that can efficiently and robustly manipulate stem cells for diverse functional applications.Read moreRead less
Controlling the adhesome to regulate cell fate on biomaterials. Mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineering practices are hampered worldwide by the lack of appreciation and understanding of the matrix-mediated cues that must be provided during adhesion and spreading to drive cells to definitive tissue end points. This project will address these knowledge deficiencies by combining high throughput array technologies, a set of tailorable self-assembling biomaterials and real-time biosensors to r ....Controlling the adhesome to regulate cell fate on biomaterials. Mesenchymal stem cell-based tissue engineering practices are hampered worldwide by the lack of appreciation and understanding of the matrix-mediated cues that must be provided during adhesion and spreading to drive cells to definitive tissue end points. This project will address these knowledge deficiencies by combining high throughput array technologies, a set of tailorable self-assembling biomaterials and real-time biosensors to rapidly, at high resolution, elucidate how mechanotransductive cues determine the fate choice of mesenchymal stem cells, and furthermore, how to manipulate them with smart biomaterial design to achieve desired outcomes for tissue engineering. Read moreRead less