Investigate Novel Functional Roles For PI 3-kinases In Platelets.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$537,215.00
Summary
Platelets are small blood cells which have a well defined role in blood clotting. There is a growing body of evidence that platelets play an important role in a broad range of inflammatory diseases, and we have identified a key role for the platelet PI3K enzyme in controlling the pro-inflammatory function of platelets. This grant will examine the importance of PI3K in health and disease, and examine the potential therapeutic benefits of inhibiting platelet PI3K.
Cell Therapy To Prevent And Treat Graft-versus-host Disease After Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,302.00
Summary
In bone marrow transplantation, donor immunity can fight the cancer but can also attack healthy tissues, causing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We will use two types of cell therapy to treat GVHD. The first study will use a safety switch called inducible capase 9 (iCasp9) to enable the donor immune cells to be rapidly eliminated if GVHD occurs. The second study will use regulatory T cells to treat patients with chronic GVHD. If successful, these treatment approaches will make transplantation ....In bone marrow transplantation, donor immunity can fight the cancer but can also attack healthy tissues, causing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We will use two types of cell therapy to treat GVHD. The first study will use a safety switch called inducible capase 9 (iCasp9) to enable the donor immune cells to be rapidly eliminated if GVHD occurs. The second study will use regulatory T cells to treat patients with chronic GVHD. If successful, these treatment approaches will make transplantation safer.Read moreRead less
Dissecting FLT3 Signalling In Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$498,328.00
Summary
Each year approximately 6000 Australian adults and children are diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or a related blood disorder, accounting for about 15% of all cancers. Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is the most common form of leukaemia in adults resulting from an accumulation of immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood as a result of sustained, abnormal cell growth and survival together with a block in normal blood cell formation. There is still a major research effort aime ....Each year approximately 6000 Australian adults and children are diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or a related blood disorder, accounting for about 15% of all cancers. Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is the most common form of leukaemia in adults resulting from an accumulation of immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood as a result of sustained, abnormal cell growth and survival together with a block in normal blood cell formation. There is still a major research effort aimed at understanding the mechanisms that lead to AML formation and it is clear that multiple AML oncogenes and tumour suppressors remain to be identified. Identification of further events involved in AML is important as it will provide avenues for more specific and less toxic treatments. These are needed because current success rates for AML remain relatively poor. It is critical that research into the understanding of the pathways and events involved in AML keeps pace with the rapid development of new approaches for therapeutic agents. Together this will greatly increase the scope for therapeutic intervention over the next decade. In this application we investigate the role of a new molecular pathway in AML. Our studies have identified a gene of particular interest that we propose normally prevents AML formation and therefore is frequently turned off by the cellular changes that lead to AML. We propose that silencing of this gene is particularly important in those AML cases which have mutations in the cell surface receptor FLT3 (about 30% of AML cases). We will use a number of molecular and cell biology approaches to manipulate this gene in mouse cell lines, normal mouse cells and human AML cells. A better understanding of the role of this gene and the associated pathway involving FLT3 may generate new leads for therapeutic approaches.Read moreRead less
Regulatory T Cell Therapy For Prevention Of Graft Versus Host Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$765,299.00
Summary
Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a potentially fatal complication of bone marrow stem cell transplantation for leukaemia and lymphoma. In an animal model of GVHD, we have recently shown 100% effectiveness of treatment with a donor immune cell population, regulatory T cells. We will determine how this therapy works in the animal model. We will use a new technique, mass cytometry, to analyse patient blood samples in preparation for developing regulatory T cell therapy for GVHD.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100220
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,000.00
Summary
Fluorescence and internal reflection system to develop lab-on-chip devices. Fluorescence and internal reflection system to develop lab-on-chip devices:
The aim of this project is to develop and establish a state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging facility. It aims to establish a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope combined with high speed epifluorescence imaging workstation that will be tailored to specifically investigate the fundamentals of blood cell, and vascular cell function. T ....Fluorescence and internal reflection system to develop lab-on-chip devices. Fluorescence and internal reflection system to develop lab-on-chip devices:
The aim of this project is to develop and establish a state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging facility. It aims to establish a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope combined with high speed epifluorescence imaging workstation that will be tailored to specifically investigate the fundamentals of blood cell, and vascular cell function. The project forms part of a broad bioengineering research program aimed at developing novel lab-on-chip technologies for basic cell biology and haematology. Outcomes from these projects may have significant impact in fundamental research in both bioengineering and biology disciplines.Read moreRead less
Dissecting The Role Of The IL-3 Receptor Alpha Subunit And Beta-catenin In Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,312.00
Summary
Leukaemia is a devastating form of blood cancer affecting both young and old. We aim to understand the mechanisms of uncontrolled cell growth associated with acute myeloid leukaemia. We focus on the role of key growth regulators that are abnormally active in the critical leukaemia stem cells. Understanding the biological and molecular properties of these cells is of considerable importance for development of the next generation of leukaemia therapies.
Mimetics and small chemical compounds for hemopoietic stem cell mobilisation. This project will result in the design and synthesis of new chemical compounds that could be used clinically to help collect blood stem cells for bone marrow transplantation. For patients this will mean more effective and less painful ways to collect stem cells and better transplant outcomes. There is a large, ongoing international market for this type of drug and likelihood of significant financial benefit.