Directed Molecular Evolution Of G Protein-coupled Receptors For Stable And Functional Expression In Escherichia Coli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$383,479.00
Summary
Approximately half of all prescription drugs on the market act on G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The mechanisms underlying GPCR function are mainly unknown due to a lack of structural information. No solved structures exist for any of the estimated 800 human GPCRs, making it difficult to design new drugs. By applying advanced protein engineering techniques I aim to produce human GPCRs in bacteria to ultimately acquire structural information, which will enable novel drug development.
Afinity Maturation And Development Of An Anti-inflammatory Monoclonal Antibody
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,489.00
Summary
Antibodies are a relatively new class of drugs that directly target molecular mechanisms of disease. Antibody therapies, such as the breast cancer drug Herceptin, have significantly increased our arsenal of effective therapeutics. In collaboration with G2 Therapies, we will use cutting-edge genetic engineering technology to produce fully human antibodies for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Mechanisms Of Gene Regulation - Structure, Function And Design
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,209.00
Summary
The human genome contains at least 20000 genes. The activity of these genes must be tightly controlled throughout an individual’s life and problems with the regulation of genes lie at the heart of many common and serious diseases, including most forms of cancer. My program of research is focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying gene regulation and on the design of new reagents that could be used to manipulate the activity of genes that behave aberrantly in disease states.
Design And Engineering Of Adnectins For Diagnosis And Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$803,152.00
Summary
This project aims to engineer a naturally-occurring human protein, called an adnectin, to produce molecules that are able to bind specific targets in the human body, and as such may be used in the diagnosis and therapy of a range of diseases.
Generating An Effective Vaccine Response Against The Intrinsically Unstructured Malaria Antigen Merozoite Surface Protein 2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$678,774.00
Summary
The malaria surface protein MSP2 is a promising candidate for inclusion in a malaria vaccine, having shown evidence of protection in phase IIb studies. Our goals are to identify the structural basis for the differential induction of human immune responses to native and recombinant MSP2 and to utilise this information to generate an MSP2 vaccine able to evoke a more effective anti-malarial response.
Virus Vaccines That Ensure Preparedness Against Future Public Health Emergencies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$862,061.00
Summary
In this proposal, we will utilize novel technology we have developed (the molecular clamp) to generate candidate subunit vaccines and therapeutic antibody treatments against four highly pathogenic viruses identified by the World Health Organization as requiring urgent R&D to prepare for future epidemics; Ebola virus, Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus, Nipah virus and Lassa fever virus. Resulting vaccines are expected to provide advantages including safety, efficacy, and thermal stability.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is the most common form of dementia, accounting for between 50-70% of all cases. There is general agreement that current treatments for AD/dementia are inadequate so new treatment strategies are desperately needed. I am addressing these challenges by developing new technologies to generate next generation treatments for AD.
Biosensor Based Clinical-decision Support For Patients With Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$691,933.00
Summary
Heart Failure (HF) is a progressive disease and a major global public health concern. HF accounts for a substantial number of hospitalisations, major healthcare resource utilisation and costs. We aim to engineer biosensor platform to stratify the risk in HF patients will revolutionise current management of HF by providing the cardiologist information to risk stratify patients based on protein signature. This will lead to a substantial paradigm shift in clinical practice.
Monoclonal antibodies, such as the cancer therapeutic Pembrolizumab, have revolutionised the treatment of cancer and many inflammatory conditions. With over $100 billion in sales in 2018, they also underpin a growing biotech industry. We have developed a highly specific, high affinity therapeutic antibody candidate, and demonstrated efficacy in animal models of malignancy. This project will advance and develop this monoclonal, allowing us to initiate clinical studies in patients.