Characterisation Of Two Novel Markers Of Osteosarcoma Metastasis As Potential Therapeutic Targets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,500.00
Summary
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone tumour in children and adolescents. In spite of aggressive chemotherapy, OS tumours that metastasise to the lungs result in dismal long-term survivals of only 10-20%. For these patients, new treatment options are desperately needed. In this proposal we show compelling data identifying two new markers of OS metastasis. This research aims to validate the suitability of these novel markers as therapeutic targets to prevent OS metastasis.
Immuno-polymeric Drugs For Prostate Cancer Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,995.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over 50 and the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths in Western society. Docetaxel is the first line of chemotherapy when other intervention strategies are unsuccessful, but 30% of patients suffer from severe side-effects. To address this problem, we will utilise carriers for docetaxel that directly target prostate tumours using a novel antibody approach. This increases accumulation at the tumour site while decreasing off-target toxicity.
KLK4 Is A Master Regulator Of Tumour Microenvironment Remodelling In Prostate Cancer And Bone Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,305.00
Summary
The current biomarker for prostate cancer, PSA, belongs to a large family of related proteins called KLK enzymes. We have evidence that one of these enzymes, KLK4, regulates many different pathways involved in tumour spreading especially to bones. This project will determine the specific components involved with a view to finding better biomarkers of tumour spread and bone metastasis and designing better treatments for these aspects of the disease.
Development Of A Novel Drug For Chronic And Infected Wounds
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,362.00
Summary
Chronic wounds affect more than 9 million people worldwide and demand for wound care is increasing. The annual cost to healthcare systems in the US and Australia in treating such wounds is US$25 billion and AU$3 billion, respectively, and there is urgent need for more effective approaches.
Nitrogen Removal in Wastewater Treatment Using the Nitrite Pathway. Nitrogen removal from our wastewater is becoming very important in most parts of Australia to protect our unique aquatic environment. This removal is achieved biologically through two steps: Nitrification converts ammonium via nitrite to nitrate; and denitrification converts nitrate via nitrite again to harmless nitrogen gas. This project aims to develop a method that allows this process to go just via nitrite, instead of nitrat ....Nitrogen Removal in Wastewater Treatment Using the Nitrite Pathway. Nitrogen removal from our wastewater is becoming very important in most parts of Australia to protect our unique aquatic environment. This removal is achieved biologically through two steps: Nitrification converts ammonium via nitrite to nitrate; and denitrification converts nitrate via nitrite again to harmless nitrogen gas. This project aims to develop a method that allows this process to go just via nitrite, instead of nitrate, to nitrogen gas. This would significantly reduce oxygen and/or carbon requirement in nitrogen removal. If successful, the new operating method will allow modern wastewater treatment plants to achieve a better effluent quality at lower costs.Read moreRead less
Characterisation and improvement of radiation beams used for radiotherapy of small lesions. This project aims to characterise the radiation dose from a medical linear accelerator after the beam has been shaped by a mini-multileaf collimator. The characterisation will be achieved through a combination of computer simulations and experimental investigation of the beam using the technique of three-dimensional gel dosimetry. When the dosage characteristics are known, techniques will be developed to ....Characterisation and improvement of radiation beams used for radiotherapy of small lesions. This project aims to characterise the radiation dose from a medical linear accelerator after the beam has been shaped by a mini-multileaf collimator. The characterisation will be achieved through a combination of computer simulations and experimental investigation of the beam using the technique of three-dimensional gel dosimetry. When the dosage characteristics are known, techniques will be developed to improve radiotherapy treatments in patients with small lesions with sizes of up to a few centimetres. This will lead to an improved outcome for some cancer patients.Read moreRead less
Development of therapeutic agents that target carbonic anhydrase enzymes. This research will discover new chemical entities (compounds) that may lead to therapies for the treatment of cancer, glaucoma and malaria. The research underpins a mechanism to add value to our compounds before partnering with industry to transform the discoveries made here to deliverable therapies that could benefit the health of millions, thus offering a potentially high value contribution to the Australian economy. The ....Development of therapeutic agents that target carbonic anhydrase enzymes. This research will discover new chemical entities (compounds) that may lead to therapies for the treatment of cancer, glaucoma and malaria. The research underpins a mechanism to add value to our compounds before partnering with industry to transform the discoveries made here to deliverable therapies that could benefit the health of millions, thus offering a potentially high value contribution to the Australian economy. The experience and commitment of the multi-disciplinary network of researchers offers exceptional training and employment opportunities for tomorrow's scientists in techniques for discovery and characterisation of novel chemicals, and their interaction with disease targets.Read moreRead less
Sensory strategies for protecting endangered sawfishes. The Gulf of Carpentaria is the last habitat worldwide containing sustainable populations of sawfish. Easily entangled in nets, the saw has reduced population numbers dramatically in Australia with all species now protected under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This study will provide basic biological information on feeding ....Sensory strategies for protecting endangered sawfishes. The Gulf of Carpentaria is the last habitat worldwide containing sustainable populations of sawfish. Easily entangled in nets, the saw has reduced population numbers dramatically in Australia with all species now protected under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This study will provide basic biological information on feeding, prey manipulation and the role of critical senses in the only captive population of sawfishes in Australia. Such knowledge will underpin the development and use of visual, chemical and/or magnetic repellents by fisherman that are still responsible for the loss of large numbers of sawfish as by-catch.Read moreRead less
Metapopulation dynamics of coral communities on the Great Barrier Reef. Mathematical models for the dynamics of coral metapopulations on the Great Barrier Reef will be formulated and parameterised. Analysis of the models will focus on how the effects of competition between corals with different growth forms are influenced by other processes that generate spatial and temporal environmental variation. The project aims to understand how these factors influence the maintenance of high diversity in ....Metapopulation dynamics of coral communities on the Great Barrier Reef. Mathematical models for the dynamics of coral metapopulations on the Great Barrier Reef will be formulated and parameterised. Analysis of the models will focus on how the effects of competition between corals with different growth forms are influenced by other processes that generate spatial and temporal environmental variation. The project aims to understand how these factors influence the maintenance of high diversity in coral communities. It will also provide a modelling framework for predicting how that diversity will be affected by long-term environmental changes, making an important contribution to conservation and management of the Great Barrier Reef.Read moreRead less