Improving Efficiency Of Surveillance Colonoscopy For Colorectal Cancer Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,123.00
Summary
Greater awareness of bowel cancer screening has led to increased demand and waiting times for colonoscopy. National guidelines recognise the need for research to identify the best use of colonoscopy to ensure health funds are directed where they are needed. This study aims to identify how often colonoscopy is required for the best patient outcomes. Data about cancer and death will be linked to hospital and laboratory data to identify which patients need more or less surveillance colonoscopies.
A Randomised Trial Of A Clinical Prediction Tool For Targeting Depression Care (Target-D)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$944,774.00
Summary
The Target-D Study uses a novel clinical prediction tool to test a new approach to depression care in general practice based upon sub-grouping patients into low, medium and high risk of ongoing depression. Participants will be randomly allocated to targeted treatments based upon their risk profile or to usual general practice care. We will measure whether the new approach results in greater improvements in depressive symptoms, quality of life and functioning and whether there are cost benefits.
Improving Quality Of Life In Late Stage Bipolar Disorder: RCT Of A Novel Psychological Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,083,620.00
Summary
Hundreds of thousands of Australians have bipolar disorder and receive minimal benefit from existing drug and psychological treatments. ORBIT 2.0 is a new low-intensity online treatment using mindfulness strategies to improve quality of life in this poorly served ‘late stage’ group. Pilot testing suggests ORBIT is effective. This project will refine the intervention and is expected to confirm its clinical and cost effectiveness prior to international roll-out.
Identifying Factors That Improve The Health Of Prisoners Who Inject Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,658.00
Summary
Prisoners who inject drugs are highly marginalised with high rates of unresolved health and social issues and high rates of return to prison. Little is known, however, about how this group manages after release from prison. This qualitative project will allow ex-prisoners to tell their own stories of the challenges they have had and what strategies (formal and informal) they have used with the aim of informing responses in prisons and in the community setting.
Roles Of The EMT Transcription Factors In Epigenetic Remodelling And Myeloid Cell Transformation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$809,520.00
Summary
This project is based upon our novel discoveries that identified ZEB2 and SNAI1 as novel genes involved in the development of aggressive forms of blood cancer. During the course of this proposal we will find new drug targets and new drug treatment options using existing drugs that will specifically target cancer initiating cells in order to kill aggressive forms of blood cancers that are currently refractory to treatment.
Identifying The Pathological Mechanism Of PCDH19-Girls Clustering Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,988.00
Summary
Changes in the PCDH19 gene are a relatively common cause of epilepsy. To better understand the basis of this disorder, we have developed unique mouse models that mimic the genetic changes and symptoms of this condition. We will perform careful analysis of brain development in these models to determine the primary cause of this condition. These experiments will create greater understanding of how changes in PCDH19 cause epilepsy in girls and facilitate the development of new treatments.
Identifying The Critical Pathways Which Regulate Vertebrate Craniofacial Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,131.00
Summary
Understanding the genes which underlie human birth defects is of immense clinical importance. Our laboratory is a world-leader investigating a gene responsible for facial skeleton development, Grhl2. With our wide range of models, we will discover how Grhl2 works to ensure the face and skull develop properly during birth.
Engineering MYCN Models Of High-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSC)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$797,478.00
Summary
The most lethal type of ovarian cancer, high-grade serous cancer (HGSC), can be divided into four subtypes based on gene patterns. One subtype involves a set of genes/proteins that, in their specific combination, result in activation of a pathway known as MYCN. As most HGSC start in the fallopian tube, we are using fallopian tube material to make new MYCN HGSC models to observe development in the earliest stages. We hope to generate new tests and treatments for this subtype of ovarian cancer.
Role Of MACROD2 Loss In DNA Repair, Chromosomal Instability And Development Of Colorectal Cancer: Clinical And Therapeutic Implications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,871.00
Summary
The MACROD2 gene is deleted in one-third of human bowel cancers. We have discovered that MACROD2 deletion causes defective DNA repair and tumour chromosomal instability. Here, we will use novel laboratory models to show that MACROD2 loss actively promotes bowel cancer development. We will test the clinical implication of MACROD2 loss for predicting tumour therapy response and will investigate the potential of exploiting this deficiency for drug targeting.
Exploiting And Defining The Immune Regulatory Activities Of BET Bromodomain Inhibitors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$923,222.00
Summary
Immune-based agents such as “checkpoint inhibitors” have the ability to re-awaken our own immune systems and activate previously dormant anti-tumor responses. We have discovered that small molecule inhibitors of gene regulatory proteins called bromodomain proteins act synergistically with checkpoint inhibitors in mouse cancer models. We will define the molecular and biological events underpinning this novel combination approach and assess the effects of the combination across different tumors.