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
Identifying Novel Antimalarial Targets Using ENU Mutagenesis In The Mouse
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$760,170.00
Summary
Malaria is estimated to cause 1.2 million deaths per year. The malarial parasite has developed resistance to most drugs and new drugs are needed. We aim to mimic the protective red blood cell diseases common in human populations in malarial endemic areas by identifying host targets that are important in parasite growth.
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.
Myelin Remodelling: A Novel Form Of Neural Plasticity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,849.00
Summary
Myelin is the insulation of the central nervous system (CNS). We have demonstrated that CNS insulation is not fixed. It changes throughout life. This project aims to find out why this happens. In particular we will investigate the role of dynamic insulation in learning and memory, and examine the role of nervous system activity in promoting the addition of new insulation. This research will provide valuable insight into multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's dementia and mental health disorders.
Molecular Regulation Of Pluripotency In The Mammalian Germline
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,935.00
Summary
Germ cells generate sperm in males or oocytes in females. In males, germ cell numbers are tightly controlled in the embryo, with too few germ cells causing infertility, and unrestrained germ cell numbers leading to testicular cancer. We have discovered a molecular mechanism that regulates germ cells in the embryo, and propose to study in mice how this regulation is accomplished and the consequences of defective regulation, in order to learn more about how infertility and testis cancer arise.
Lysosomal Dysfunction As An Inhibitor Of Vitamin B12 Utilisation In Neurodegenerative Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$554,901.00
Summary
Vitamin B12 is required for red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis and normal neurological function. B12 deficiency contributes to age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. This research will provide important new information regarding the ageing process and the impact that brain changes associated with ageing and Alzheimer's disease have on B12 metabolism. It will provide important information related to the therapeutic potential of B12.
Defining The Function Of ROCK In Establishing A Tumour-promoting Microenvironment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,950.00
Summary
Cancer’s spread from its primary to secondary sites causes most cancer-related deaths. As cancers grow and spread, their internal structure is modified. Immune cells within the cancer begin to behave differently to the same types of cells in normal tissues, promoting its spread. We have discovered that many of these changes are regulated by a protein called ROCK. We plan to study how ROCK controls such a wide range of tumour promoting processes.
NDI1 Therapy For NADH-Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase Deficiency
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,762.00
Summary
This study will test a new protein therapy that can act as a surrogate for a deficient or defective enzyme called Mitochondrial Complex 1. The deficiency occurs in newborns with defective genes for the proteins that form the enzyme. The defect causes metabolic malfunction in most organs, with patients needing specialist hospital and parental care, but there is no cure yet. We have successfully tested this in the lab but will now test this in our new animal model of the disease.
Identification Of Novel Targets For Treatment Of Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,873.00
Summary
Hearts respond to stimulation by activation of cell surface receptors. We have found that two very closely related receptors have opposing effects on the heart; one is beneficial and the other promotes disease. The planned studies will investigate exactly what explains this difference. This will identify critical factors that protect or damage the heart and is expected to provide suitable targets for drug development.
6% of Australian men are infertile. Of these cases 50% are thought to be genetic in origin. Within this project we will replicate high-confidence genetic variants associated with human male infertility in the mouse. Doing so will allow the assignment of definitive genotype-phenotype correlations and the formulation of high confidence advice for clinicians and patients. It will also provide a means to define the mechanism of action and the tools for future pro-fertility treatments.