Even in well-resourced countries, the ability to continue treating HIV patients for their lifetime may become unaffordable, which has focused attention on developing a cure for HIV. We have exploited unique insights into a pathway for Tat expression from latent HIV to identify novel compounds that target HIV latency. This project assembles a multidisciplinary team to optimize the lead compounds, and develop novel drug regimens to fast-track into clinical development as a HIV-curative therapy.
Needle Free Delivery Of Dengue And Zika Vaccines To The Skin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$642,792.00
Summary
There is no Zika vaccine and only one licensed dengue vaccine, which is age and region restricted because of poor efficacy. We have developed safe subunit vaccine candidates capable of inducing potent virus neutralizing antibodies and demonstrated protection from lethal dengue challenge in a mouse model. Here we are partnering with Vaxxas to undertake preclinical development and GLP toxicity trials for microarray patches delivering dengue and zika virus subunit vaccines.
Dengue virus is the most important mosquito-borne viral disease, with 2/3 of the world's population at risk. There is currently no treatment available for dengue. Our proposal aims to progress a safe and effective new treatment (4-HPR) against Dengue towards the clinic, generating all the required pharmacokinetic and pre-clinical animal data necessary to progress to a future clinical trial in humans. We will also investigate the use of 4-HPR as a dengue preventative.
Mucosal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Vaccine Late Pre-clinical Evaluation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,315.00
Summary
Despite many candidate vaccines entering clinical development for protection against HIV, none has yet been successful. This proposal centres on late preclinical development for a novel mucosal vaccine strategy for HIV, which combines a preclinically-proven approach to generating strong T cell immune responses, with an existing approach to generating broadly neutralising antibody responses to HIV. Proof of synergy between these approaches will lead directly to clinical development.
Pre-clinica Evaluation Of A Novel HIV-1 Vaccine Statrgy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$528,440.00
Summary
Recently, we have designed two mucosal HIV vaccine strategies that temporary block hormone-like molecules IL-4/IL-13 at the vaccination site inducing excellent antibody and killer T cell immunity with protective efficacy in small animals. This project aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these novel HIV mucosal vaccines prior to clinical evaluation.
A Novel Strategy To Enhance T Cell-mediated Immunity To Vaccine Antigens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$234,592.00
Summary
Globally there are about 33 million people living with HIV. The disease has already resulted in 23 million deaths and 2.5 million people are newly infected each year. Similarly, TB kills nearly 2 million people every year and infects about 1% of the worldÍs population every year. A vaccine is the best and also likely the only long-term solution for HIV/TB disease prevention. This research proposal looks at novel strategies to increase the efficacy of vaccines for diseases such as HIV/TB.