Trafficking Mechanisms Governing Receptor Availability For Signalling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,978.00
Summary
Receptors on the cell surface allow cells to respond to their environment. We have recently discovered a new pathway for controlling the amount of receptors displayed on the cell surface, errors within which will lead to defects in development and diseases like cancer. We are studying how this new pathway controls the balance between how much receptors are destroyed after being activated and how much are recycled back for re-use.
There’s recent evidence that children get leaner and fitter during the school term, but become fatter and less fit over the summer holidays. This may be because of differences in activity and diet: on holidays, children may eat more, be less active and have more screen time. We propose to track the time use, diet, fitness and fatness of 9-11 year old children across three school years. If the pattern is confirmed, we should focus more on the home environment, or perhaps encourage summer camps.
Active Team – Examining An Online Social Networking Intervention To Increase Physical Activity In Controlled (RCT) And Ecological (ET) Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,041.00
Summary
Lifestyle diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, are key health problems facing Australia. Effective, low-cost, mass-reach physical activity interventions are urgently needed. This project uses online social networks to deliver an innovative physical activity intervention. This project will determine how effective the software is in changing people’s lifestyle over 12 months, and whether viral marketing techniques can be used to disseminate the program on a mass scale.
Pushing AR Toward Better Outcomes In Breast And Prostate Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$998,754.00
Summary
Breast and prostate cancers kill >6000 Australians each year. These cancers are strikingly similar, both driven by hormone receptors that have ‘gone bad’. Current therapies aim to eradicate the receptors. While often effective, therapeutic resistance is common and results in fatal disease. We aim to develop new, less toxic treatments that switch receptor behaviour from good to bad, without destroying them. This should improve quality of life, while preventing drug resistance and loss of lives ....Breast and prostate cancers kill >6000 Australians each year. These cancers are strikingly similar, both driven by hormone receptors that have ‘gone bad’. Current therapies aim to eradicate the receptors. While often effective, therapeutic resistance is common and results in fatal disease. We aim to develop new, less toxic treatments that switch receptor behaviour from good to bad, without destroying them. This should improve quality of life, while preventing drug resistance and loss of lives.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of VEGFR Trafficking And Signal Transduction By The Ubiquitin Ligase Nedd4
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,347.00
Summary
Our recent work has discovered that the Nedd4 gene is crucial for the growth and development of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. Our data suggest that Nedd4 controls vessel growth by regulating the levels and signalling activity of the key vascular growth factor receptors VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. The goals of this proposal are to define precisely how Nedd4-1 regulates the activity of these receptors and how VEGFR signalling could be better targeted to treat vascular disorders.
Preclinical Evaluation Of The Novel Therapeutic Compound APP96-110 In An Ovine Model Of Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$874,734.00
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of death and disability, and yet there are currently no effective treatments to improve outcome following such an insult. Our laboratory has developed a novel therapeutic compound, by identifying an endogenous neuroprotective molecule, in the amyloid precursor protein and then identifying the active site and modifying it to improve its efficacy. We will be testing this compound in our sheep model of TBI.
Is Abdominal Discomfort A “colonic Itch”? Identification Of Itch Specific Pathways In The Gut In Health And Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$906,996.00
Summary
Chronic abdominal pain is a major worldwide problem. TGR5 and Mrgpr receptors are expressed by neuronal pathways innervating the skin, where they detect irritants and transmit itch. Our novel, innovative project shows a similar pathway exists within the viscera, which plays a major and unappreciated role in chronic abdominal pain. These receptors represent novel targets for therapeutic treatment, potentially creating multibillion-dollar savings to the Australian economy and healthcare systems.
GABA(B) Receptor Modulation Of Gastrointestinal Function In Health And Disease By Alpha-Conotoxins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$689,050.00
Summary
Chronic visceral pain is a common and debilitating condition arising from numerous diseases that affect our internal organs. There is a desperate need for more information about the mechanisms responsible for signalling chronic visceral pain to provide therapies and potentially find a cure for it. Our research focuses on ?-conotoxins (small peptides from marine cone snail venom) as novel potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic visceral pain.