Vitamin D Synthesis Within Osteoblasts Increases Bone Mineral By Regulating Remodelling: Is This The Link Between Vitamin D Status And Fractures?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,082.00
Summary
This project will contribute to understanding mechanism of vitamin D action within bone to modulate bone resorption and offers the exciting prospect of identifying the mechanism by which an adequate vitamin D status can reduce the risk of osteoporotic hip fractures. Thus, this project has great potential to improve community health by being able to recommend vitamin D supplementation made on the basis of maintaining normal bone cell function with psarticular reference to modulating bone resorpti ....This project will contribute to understanding mechanism of vitamin D action within bone to modulate bone resorption and offers the exciting prospect of identifying the mechanism by which an adequate vitamin D status can reduce the risk of osteoporotic hip fractures. Thus, this project has great potential to improve community health by being able to recommend vitamin D supplementation made on the basis of maintaining normal bone cell function with psarticular reference to modulating bone resorption.Read moreRead less
Defining The Cellular Basis For Therapeutic Angiogenesis: Characterisation Of Endothelial Progenitor Cell Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,943.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the Australia. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), similar to stem cells, have strong self-renewal capabilities and the ability to mature further. There has been immense interest in using EPCs as they are believed to have a role in the growth and repair of blood vessels. This research systematically studies two candidate EPCs, the early EPC and the outgrowth EPC (OEC), and potentially paves the way for using EPCs to treat heart disease.
Development Of Therapeutically Useful Human Artificial Chromosomes For Gene Delivery And Optimal Gene Expression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,986.00
Summary
Gene therapy is an exciting new form of treatment for genetic disorders aimed at providing long-term correction of the problems at source - namely the affected gene. The biggest technical hurdle facing gene therapy is to be able to deliver the therapeutic genes efficiently and safely into patient cells. Many gene therapy protocols are currently being trialled clinically. These protocols, based mostly on the use of attenuated viruses to deliver the genes, carry potential risks to the patients in ....Gene therapy is an exciting new form of treatment for genetic disorders aimed at providing long-term correction of the problems at source - namely the affected gene. The biggest technical hurdle facing gene therapy is to be able to deliver the therapeutic genes efficiently and safely into patient cells. Many gene therapy protocols are currently being trialled clinically. These protocols, based mostly on the use of attenuated viruses to deliver the genes, carry potential risks to the patients in terms of infection, immune response, and germline modification. We have developed the first stage of a new technology for gene delivery that does not require the use of viruses. This technology is based on the generation of human artificial chromosomes, which are smaller versions of the naturally occurring chromosomes that carry all the genes inside our cells. Safety in these artificial chromosomes comes from the use of entirely human materials for their engineering. These artificial chromosomes also have other advantages over the viral approaches, including allowing large genes to be carried, and providing a permanent cure in a single treatment. We have already successfully constructed, published, and patented a number of first-generation human artificial chromosomes. The current project aims to complete the next proof-of-concept milestone towards the further development of this technology. Specifically, we propose to demonstrate the ability of the artificial chromosomes to carry genes and provide sustainable expression of these genes in cells and in animal models. Success in this study will allow the technology to proceed rapidly into commercialisation and clinical trial as a new improved tool for gene delivery and gene therapy.Read moreRead less
Identifying How The Enteric Nervous System Regulates Gut Permeability In Autism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,643.00
Summary
This project aims to investigate causes of increased gut permeability in neurological disorders including autism and will apply neuroscience, immunological and microbiology techniques to clarify the causes of increased gut permeability in a well-characterised genetic mouse model of autism.
Harnessing The Dual Roles Of Pericytes To Improve Stroke Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$853,943.00
Summary
Pericytes are cells that are in the walls of capillaries - the smallest blood vessels. Pericytes control blood flow and help promote recovery after injury. In stroke, pericytes squeeze the capillary shut, limiting the amount of energy getting to the brain. This proposal will use innovative techniques to understand how pericytes limit blood flow and also how we can utilise pericytes to improve brain recovery after stroke. This will allow us to identify new potential treatment options for stroke.
Decoding The Transcriptional Program Of Vessel Growth In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
Lymphatic vessels are essential to maintain fluid balance in most tissues of the human body. Further the lymphatic vasculature plays a central role during cancer and contributes to tumour metastasis. Despite this integral function in health and disease little is known about the molecular programs that coordinate gene expression to build a functional vasculature. This research project will address this gap in our knowledge and will open up new therapeutic avenues for lymphatic vascular disorders
New Projection Neurons Are Added To The Brain Throughout Life – Identifying Their Source And Function.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$505,991.00
Summary
Scientists aim to use our body’s own stem cells to make new nerve cells for brain repair. There are two major types of nerve cell: long range and short range; and until now we did not know how to make new long range nerves. I recently discovered that a special type of brain stem cell, the OPC, makes new long range nerves throughout life. We are building on this discovery by trying to understand the signals that control this process in order to direct OPCs towards nerve regeneration.
Development Of An Intracellular Tau-specific Antibody Therapeutic For The Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,378.00
Summary
The protein, tau, is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia's. Targeting tau is a challenge, however, as it is mostly localised within brain cells and a therapeutic must therefore be able to cross multiple barriers to engage and neutralise tau. This project overcomes this hurdle by using virus' to deliver a tau-specific antibody gene across the multiple barriers where it can be produced by brain cells and target intracellular tau.