Glutathione Transferase Deficient Mice To Probe For Adverse Drug Reactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,933.00
Summary
A family of enzymes called glutathione transferases (GST) that metabolize foreign chemicals and therapeutic drugs have been shown to be a significant cause of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. It has been suggested that inhibitors of GSTs could be used in cancer treatment to counter drug resistance or to slow the metabolism and enhance the activity of some drugs. Some GSTs carryout important enzymatic reactions with endogenous substrates and others have important non-enzymatic functions su ....A family of enzymes called glutathione transferases (GST) that metabolize foreign chemicals and therapeutic drugs have been shown to be a significant cause of drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. It has been suggested that inhibitors of GSTs could be used in cancer treatment to counter drug resistance or to slow the metabolism and enhance the activity of some drugs. Some GSTs carryout important enzymatic reactions with endogenous substrates and others have important non-enzymatic functions such as the regulation of signaling pathways within cells and the modulation of calcium ion channels that are involved in muscle contractions. The generic inhibition of all GSTs could therefore have significant adverse physiological effects. We propose to make mice deficient in specific GSTs and to study their physiological responses. The results of these studies will indicate which GSTs can be safely inhibited without the risk of deleterious side effects. These studies are important because adverse reactions to therapeutic drugs are a significant cause of hospital admissions and death.Read moreRead less
Children’s Perspectives On Their Social World: An Examination Of The Family, School And Community Factors That Influence Social Inclusion For Children Whose Parents Have Intellectual Disabilities.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$39,968.00
Summary
With a world first, Australian researchers explore the lives of children whose parents have intellectual disabilities. Mothers with intellectual disabilities are at risk of social isolation and exclusion which affects their parenting. Their children are at risk of stigma and peer rejection. From a child’s perspective, new research examines the features of family, school and community life that facilitate social inclusion for a group of children at risk of social exclusion.
A Study Of The Impact Of Psychological Distress And Disadvantage On The Educational Outcomes Of Tertiary Students
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$70,511.00
Summary
The study will examine differences in psychological distress over time between socio-economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged tertiary students and, in turn, the potential role of psychological distress in explaining any differences between these groups in course non-completion or completion. The knowledge gained from the study can inform programs and interventions designed to prevent or reduce tertiary student mental health problems and course non-completion.
Social Media To Enhance Indigenous Tobacco Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$922,680.00
Summary
Smoking prevalence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is more than twice as high as the overall Australian population, and smoking is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity of Indigenous Australians. Accelerating the decline in smoking prevalence is an urgent priority to Close The Gap in health outcomes. The aim of this project is to understand how social media can be harnessed to enhance the impact of proven tobacco control strategies among Indigenous Australians.
Living With Uncertainty: Creating the Postmodern Self in Contemporary Australia. Life in postmodernity is marked by rapid change and uncertainty. Increasingly, as tradition is worn away, individuals must create new scripts to give life meaning and structure. Through a case study of gays and lesbians, this project will investigate how a group of Australians are creating postmodern selves. Drawing on in-depth interviews, it traces the relationship between discursive and psychological accounts of t ....Living With Uncertainty: Creating the Postmodern Self in Contemporary Australia. Life in postmodernity is marked by rapid change and uncertainty. Increasingly, as tradition is worn away, individuals must create new scripts to give life meaning and structure. Through a case study of gays and lesbians, this project will investigate how a group of Australians are creating postmodern selves. Drawing on in-depth interviews, it traces the relationship between discursive and psychological accounts of the postmodern self and their political effects. With a particular interest in emotional life, this study will provide critical information on how individuals and communities can manage creatively the uncertain conditions of postmodernity.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of Oxytocin On Social Cognition And Behaviour In Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$261,117.00
Summary
Deficits in social functioning are one of the core features of Autism Spectrum Disorders and evidence suggests that the Oxytocin (OT) system may be dysregulated in these individuals. This proposal tests the effects of synthetic OT in a sample of youth with ASD on measures of social cognition and behaviour. This research may lead to more efficient and effective treatments for ASD and may enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying Autism and related disorders.
Flavivirus Replication - Biogenesis, Ultrastructure And Roles Of Induced Membranes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$334,880.00
Summary
Flaviviruses are the agents of many mosquito-transmitted infections such as encephalitis and dengue, and hepatitis C virus is a member of the same virus family. During virus multiplication in cells, new membrane structures are induced and these represent regions where the replication events occur. Using Kunjin virus, an agent of Australian encephalitis, as a model, and advanced techniques in biochemistry and electron microscopy, we have previously identified these membranes as the site of synthe ....Flaviviruses are the agents of many mosquito-transmitted infections such as encephalitis and dengue, and hepatitis C virus is a member of the same virus family. During virus multiplication in cells, new membrane structures are induced and these represent regions where the replication events occur. Using Kunjin virus, an agent of Australian encephalitis, as a model, and advanced techniques in biochemistry and electron microscopy, we have previously identified these membranes as the site of synthesis of the viral RNA or genetic material, and the viral proteins involved. These comprise the viral replication complex. The research will define the origin of these membranes, and how the components of the associated replication complex are assembled. Assembly of the virus particles in cells is also being analysed using similar technology. Hepatitis C virus cannot be reliably grown at present for research purposes in cultured cells, and we will attempt to develop a helper system to overcome the problem. An understanding of these processes, and how the viral RNA is copied into progeny RNA for new virus particles, may assist in the development of antiviral drugs for treatment of slow or persistent virus infections such as hepatitis C.Read moreRead less