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Therapeutic Potential Of Hookworm Secreted Molecules For The Treatment Of Human Autoimmune Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$93,597.00
Summary
In developed countries, the increased incidence of allergic and autoimmune diseases has been related to the decreased prevalence of parasitic infections. The present research will explore the role that parasite molecules play in mechanisms that regulate the immune response of their vertebrate hosts and test their potential to become novel therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Targeting IL-33 In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Asthma And Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Lung diseases (emphysema, severe asthma & pulmonary fibrosis) are major burdens on Australian community and economy. Airway wounding is a key feature of all these diseases. Patients experience severe breathlessness seriously impacting quality of life and frequently leading to death. We will assess the potential of a new target (IL-33), & therapy (anti-IL-33) in suppressing wounding in experimental models and human tissues. This may lead to a new treatment to reverse and/or prevent lung diseases.
While many cases of asthma are mild, severe cases require extensive health care resources and are virtually unresponsive to conventional treatment. This project will investigate whether specific compounds released from the airway are able to cause lung damage and airway abnormalities similar to that in severe asthma. We will investigate whether these changes are responsive to conventional therapy and investigate a potential treatment for regaining this responsiveness in severe asthma.
The Early Life Origin Of Airway Smooth Muscle Thickening In Asthma Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,198.00
Summary
Previous studies have shown that fetal growth restriction (FGR) in the womb is associated with asthma in children; however the reason remains unknown. Thickening of the airway smooth muscle (ASM) is the primary structural abnormality in asthma. A model of FGR caused by low oxygen in the womb will be used to determine if associations between FGR and asthma involve an early life increase in ASM. That ASM may be increased from birth is a novel hypothesis which challenges conventional thinking.
Targeting An Epigenetic Silencing Pathway To Treat Allergic Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Asthma affects around 11% of the Australian population and costs the health care system around $28 billion. Unfortunately there is still no cure and treatments have not changed for decades. This project aims to discover new drugs to treat asthma by re-wiring the cells of the immune system which cause the disease.
Pharyngeal Wall Folding: Role In Upper Airway Collapsibility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$217,274.00
Summary
In obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) the throat closes during sleep. In order for the throat to close the surface of the throat has to fold. Mathematical models predict that the more folds present, the more stable a structure will be. This research will examine how folding of the airway surface of the throat is achieved in subjects with and without OSA. It will also develop ways of changing the folding patterns using bench, animal and human studies. This will result in new treatments for OSA.
Therapeutic Potential Of The IL-3-IL-5-GM-CSF Common Beta Receptor To Treat Upper And Lower Allergic Airway
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,442.00
Summary
This research aims to develop new treatments for allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, which remain significant public health problems in Australia. We will develop new therapies with the potential to completely suppress acute and chronic allergic disease targeting a common receptor protein that controls multiple facets of allergic inflammation. We will test antibodies intended to treat human asthma using a novel mouse strain expressing the human form of this receptor.
Regulation Of Pulmonary Responsiveness By Chronic Mechanical Strain And Its Role In Obstructive Lung Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
The pressures required to breathe place a continuous but varying mechanical strain on airway passages and lung tissue. This mechanical strain may protect the airway from collapsing, however, this protection is deficient in lung diseases such as asthma. This project considers the possibility that abnormal mechanical strain occurring in lung disease predisposes the individual to debilitating and potentially life-threatening airflow obstruction.