Translating New Therapeutics And Diagnostics For Major Pregnancy Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,156.00
Summary
My research is focussed on tackling major complications of pregnancy that are a threat to the lives of both mother’s and babies. We are developing new drug treatments for ectopic pregnancy (a dangerous condition where the pregnancy implants in the Fallopian tube), and preeclampsia (a condition where toxins leak out of the placenta into mum's blood, and can seriously injure many of mum's major organs). We are also generating a blood test that may help women avoid the tragedy of a stillbirth.
Development Of Vinorelbine As A Tablet Based Therapy To Cure Ectopic Pregnancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$361,594.00
Summary
Ectopic pregnancies occur if the pregnancy implants in the Fallopian tube. They can be deadly and most are treated surgically. We will examine the exciting possibility that instead of surgery, ectopic pregnancies may be cured with a tablet taken just once. We will perform laboratory studies and a clinical trial, giving vinorelbine to women with ectopic pregnancies.
Targeting The Anti-angiogenic Factors Of Preeclampsia: Soluble Endoglin And SFlt1
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,024.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a severe disease of pregnancy - the placenta releases toxins in to mum's bloodstream that circulate her body and damage her organs. As there are no efficacious treatments, clinicians are forced to deliver babies irrespective of gestation. Although the two toxins of preeclampsia have been identified, little is known about their regulation. This project aims to elucidate the regulation of these toxins and design therapeutics that can prevent their release in the clinic.
Combination Methotrexate And Gefitinib To Cure Ectopic Pregnancies: Phase I-II Clinical Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,875.00
Summary
Ectopic pregnancies are dangerous emergencies that can cause fatal bleeding. Most require surgery. We plan to test a novel medication-based treatment that could be used to cure most ectopics. If successful, it could revolutionise current management.
Soluble Endoglin In The Pathogenesis Of Preeclampsia: Investigation Of Mechanisms And The Development Of Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,733.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a severe disease of pregnancy. As the pathogenesis is poorly understood, the only treatment is for clinicians to deliver babies irrespective of gestation. We have identified MMP-14 as the molecular scissors that release soluble endoglin from placenta, a toxin centrally responsible for severe preeclampsia. In this project we aim to further investigate the mechanisms governing soluble endoglin release and to begin developing a potential therapeutic for use in the clinic.
Developing Diagnostics And Therapeutics For Preeclampsia: Targeting A Novel Placental Specific SFlt-1 Variant
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$722,283.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a dreaded disease of pregnancy, globally responsible for thousands of deaths of mothers and babies. It is caused by a protein called sFlt-1 leaking out of the placenta and attacking the mothers organs. Recently, a new sflt-1 subtype was discovered that is specific to the placenta. It may be the key disease causing toxin in preeclampsia. We will target this placental specific sFlt-1 to generate diagnostics to predict preeclampsia, and explore novel ways to block the toxic effects ....Preeclampsia is a dreaded disease of pregnancy, globally responsible for thousands of deaths of mothers and babies. It is caused by a protein called sFlt-1 leaking out of the placenta and attacking the mothers organs. Recently, a new sflt-1 subtype was discovered that is specific to the placenta. It may be the key disease causing toxin in preeclampsia. We will target this placental specific sFlt-1 to generate diagnostics to predict preeclampsia, and explore novel ways to block the toxic effects of sFlt-1 as a strategy to develop drugs.Read moreRead less
Systematic Screening Approach To Identify New Therapeutics For Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$727,529.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication where factors are released from the placenta into the mum's bloodstream, causing widespread blood vessel and organ damage. Sadly, there is no treatment. Our laboratory has a set up a system to test whether drugs might be useful as a treatment for preeclampsia. We test whether the drugs decrease the release of these factors and protect blood vessels. In this grant, we propose testing three exciting drug treatments for preeclampsia.
Developing Molecularly Targeted Therapeutics And Diagnostics For Pregnancy Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,489.00
Summary
Pregnancy complications still causes the death of mothers, and their babies. During this fellowship, we will be developing new treatments and clinical tests for three important complications of pregnancy. We will run clinical trials of a new medication based treatment to cure ectopic pregnancies. We will also develop a blood test that can identify those babies still in the womb but suffering dangerously low oxygen levels. Lastly, we will develop drugs to treat preeclampsia, a serious condition o ....Pregnancy complications still causes the death of mothers, and their babies. During this fellowship, we will be developing new treatments and clinical tests for three important complications of pregnancy. We will run clinical trials of a new medication based treatment to cure ectopic pregnancies. We will also develop a blood test that can identify those babies still in the womb but suffering dangerously low oxygen levels. Lastly, we will develop drugs to treat preeclampsia, a serious condition of pregnancy.Read moreRead less
Epigenetic Regulation Of Inflammatory Genes In The Fetal Membranes: Role In Term And Preterm Birth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,534.00
Summary
Preterm birth is the leading cause of death among newborns and the biggest contributor to disability among infants. Here we propose research to define the mechanism that controls the length of pregnancy and is disrupted in preterm birth. Specifically, we will determine what causes the repression of the labour-promoting inflammatory genes in the uterus during pregnancy and what activates them at labour. We will identify new targets for interventions to block or prevent preterm birth.
Development Of Novel Medical Therapies To Cure Ectopic Pregnancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,156.00
Summary
Ectopic pregnancies are conceptions implanting outside the womb, mainly the fallopian tube. They are pathological, and can erode straight through the tube into large blood vessels causing fatal bleeding and death. We plan to assess three medication based approaches to treat this condition that would avoid surgery entirely. If we succeed, and subsequently translate one or more of these treatments to the clinic, it would revolutionise management of this serious gynaecological emergency.