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Specific Targeting Of Nanosystems By Cutaneous Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$985,026.00
Summary
Substances have long been applied to the skin for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes, but the range of suitable compounds is limited. Consequently, there is a need for a wider range of compounds which can be delivered effectively into the skin for targeted treatment, diagnostic imaging and vaccination. New nanomaterial drug delivery systems are being increasingly used for these purposes. We seek to understand the properties of nanosystems that will enable improved drug targeting via the skin.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is extremely common in Australia, resulting in disfiguring surgeries and deaths. Although cumulative sun exposure is important, some people are very susceptible, and we do not know why. This project hinges on the notion that skin cancer is a complex (many genes involved). We will utilize novel systems to harness this complexity to understand why some people are resistant and others very susceptible so as to design appropriate control measures and treatments.
ONTRANS: Oral Nicotinamide For Skin Cancer Chemoprevention After Transplant
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,824.00
Summary
The skin’s immune system is a key defence against skin cancer. Transplant recipients, who are chronically and profoundly immune suppressed to prevent rejection, have a 50-80 fold increase in skin cancer risk. Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) reduced skin cancer in our recent Phase 3 trial in immune competent individuals. A pilot study in renal transplant patients showed similar results. This project will determine at the Phase 3 level whether nicotinamide reduces skin cancers after kidney transplant.
Brm And Brg-1 Protect From Ultraviolet Radiation-induced Skin And Ocular Damage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,325.00
Summary
Ultraviolet radiation within sunlight is the most important environmental hazard to which Australians are exposed. It causes cancers of the skin and eye, in addition to other forms of skin and eye damage. However sunlight also has health benefits such as vitamin D production. To protect our health from the sun we need to understand how it causes damage and the meachanisms involved. We have discovered a new pathway that we plan to study, called Brm and Brg-1, that provides protection from UV.
Muir Torre Syndrome: The Role Of IHC And Genotyping In Sebaceous Neoplasia To Facilitate Prevention Strategies In Colorectal And Endometrial Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$396,786.00
Summary
Sebaceous neoplasia (SN), may be an early warning sign for Lynch syndrome (LS), an inherited cancer predisposition caused by mutations in a group of genes. There are high lifetime risks of bowel and uterine cancer, for which there are effective risk management plans if the risk is known. Clinicians are challenged by the role of SN in identifying LS. At present, it is hard to differentiate. We aim to determine features to improve the diagnosis of LS carriers.
Fighting Epidermal Skin Cancers By Targeting Epidermal Clones That Accumulate Mutations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,149,373.00
Summary
Common skin cancers such as basal and squamous cell carcinomas (BCC and SCC) are by far the most frequent cancer worldwide and require over a million interventions per year in Australia. This project will identify the skin cells that are most susceptible to give rise to cancer if excessively exposed to the sun and explores ways to prevent cancer formation. This will inform on new strategies to prevent new skin cancer development.
Building Tissue Engineered Flaps For Surgical Reconstruction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,453.00
Summary
As a result of serious trauma, burns or cancer surgery, large areas of new skin may be required. Of the three major skin layers - epidermal and dermal replacements are available clinically, but the third layer - the underlying fat tissue layer is yet to be developed. This project has devised a novel product to rapidly recreate the skin fat layer and additionally rapidly grow new blood vessels in these layers which will enable excellent skin coverage in all forms of major skin loss.
Determinants Of Progression Of Actinic Keratoses To Squamous Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,188,498.00
Summary
Sunspots can progress to skin cancers, but often go away on their own. Knowing which ones will go away would make management of sun damaged skin easier, and might let us develop new treatments. This grant will examine why some sunspots progress and others don't.
Post-operative Concurrent Chemo-radiotherapy Versus Post-operative Radiotherapy In High Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Head And Neck
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,000.00
Summary
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is one of the most common cancers affecting Australians. The majority are readily cured with simple local therapy, such as surgery. However some patients develop advanced disease requiring surgery and post-operative radiotherapy. Despite this, some patients do not achieve cure. This study aims to improve cure rates for these patients by comparing post-operative radiotherapy (control arm) to post-operative chemo-radiotherapy(experimental arm).
Skin cancer affects 60% of Australians. Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) prevents many of sunlight’s damaging effects and reduces premalignant keratoses by 35% compared to placebo in sun-damaged individuals. We now need to test whether nicotinamide can prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer patients will receive nicotinamide or placebo for 12 months and new cancers will be counted in each group. Nicotinamide is safe, widely available and an exciting opportunity for cost-effective skin cancer prevention.