Regional Immunosuppression For Corneal Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$268,264.00
Summary
Blindness exerts major physical, emotional and economic constraints and hardship upon the sufferer. Corneal transplantation is a well-accepted surgical treatment for visual impairment caused by opacification of the cornea, the transparent window at the front of the eye. Corneas for transplantation are retrieved from people who have recently died, after permission has been sought from the donor's family. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of corneal transplants fail because they are recogniz ....Blindness exerts major physical, emotional and economic constraints and hardship upon the sufferer. Corneal transplantation is a well-accepted surgical treatment for visual impairment caused by opacification of the cornea, the transparent window at the front of the eye. Corneas for transplantation are retrieved from people who have recently died, after permission has been sought from the donor's family. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of corneal transplants fail because they are recognized as foreign, and undergo rejection by the recipient. Once a corneal graft has failed, it is no longer transparent to light. A number of novel interventions are being developed to reduce the incidence of corneal graft rejection, but at present it is uncertain exactly how these should be delivered to the patient. The research described in this application is designed to discover how therapeutic agents and interventions can best be targeted, to prevent corneal graft rejection. Overcoming an unwanted immune response would improve the outcome of corneal transplantation by as much as thirty percent.Read moreRead less
Overcoming Breast Cancer Heterogeneity And Resistance Using A Novel Therapeutic Approach Targeting The Metastasis Suppressor NDRG1.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Breast cancer (BrCa) is the leading cause of cancer death in women and current treatments suffer from development of resistance, leading to metastatic progression. I will assess a novel treatment strategy for BrCa, targeting a gene that is able to inhibit multiple key drivers of BrCa, using a novel potent and selective anti-cancer agent. This approach has the potential to overcome resistance to current therapies and alleviate the onset of metastasis, to improve prognosis for BrCa patients.
TACI: A Novel Immune Checkpoint In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$874,462.00
Summary
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a very common blood cancer. CLL cells actively shut down immune defenses in patients. Moreover, current as well as emerging more targeted therapies suppress immunity and over a quarter of patients will die from an infection despite a good response to cancer treatments. Our laboratory has gained new understanding in the mechanism of action of a new treatment for CLL called Ibrutinib. This information allows us to design improved treatment options for CLL.
The Receptor-associated Protein (RAP) As A Molecular Chaperone For The Amyloid Protein (Abeta) Of Alzheimers Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$402,403.00
Summary
Our research will examine the role of a protein known as the receptor-associated protein (RAP) in Alzheimer's disease. We will determine whether the protein contributes to the progression of Alzheimer's disease and we will examine the possiblity that that RAP may be used as a drug to treat the disease. The project could potentially have direct benefit for patients by leading to an effective treatment for dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Future Tobacco Control Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,112.00
Summary
This research will evaluate promising new strategies to reduce the harm caused by tobacco, the leading preventable cause of premature death in Australia. This includes evaluation of general population-based strategies, such as public smoking bans, and interventions to help smokers quit smoking, such as new cessation aids and long-term maintenance on pharmaceutical nicotine or low-nitrosamine smokeless tobacco.