A Novel Role For MHC Class II In Carbohydrate Presentation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$703,030.00
Summary
Cells of the immune system swallow up foreign molecules and break them down to smaller fragments. T cells then identify the degraded antigen fragments and coordinate the immune response. In this project we will investigate how the T cells identify carbohydrates.
Development Of A New Specific Immunosuppressive Monoclonal Antibody To Advance Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$736,300.00
Summary
Current nonspecific immunosuppressive agents compromise post transplant protective responses, including the anti-tumour effect of a bone marrow transplant. We have developed an antibody (3C12C), that targets CD83 on activated dendritic cells as a new, more specific, immunosuppressive strategy. We will work with our commercial partner to develop the patented antibody as a new imunosuppressive agent, which retains anti-viral and anti-cancer responses. This would be a major advance for patients.
Enhancing The Immune Response To Disordered Malaria Antigens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,739.00
Summary
Half of the worlds population live at risk of malaria, and the disease kills half a million people a year, predominantly young children. Despite recent progress, a vaccine with the efficacy required to help control and ultimately eradicate malaria remains out of reach. This project studies an important class of proteins likely to form part of a future malaria vaccine, and will develop new ways to improve their effectiveness as vaccine components.
Drug-induced Immune Thrombocytopenia: Understanding The Disease Mechanisms Is The Key To Better Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,550.00
Summary
Many very commonly used medications cause an allergic reaction in a small number of patients that receive them. The allergic reaction results in platelets being destroyed and puts the patients at risk of bleeding. The patient recovers slowly if the drug is stopped but there is no other treatment and no way to reverse the effect quickly if the patient starts to bleed. This project will try to understand the mechanism of the condition and test a potential treatment.
Analysis Of Antigen Processing In Melanoma Cells, Its Influence On The Success Of Cancer Vaccination And Enhancement In A Combined-immunotherapy Xenograft Model Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$297,891.00
Summary
Cancer vaccines, an exciting new treatment option that aims to boost a patientÍs own immune system to fight a growing cancer, have shown great promise in developmental studies. Although these vaccines generate strong anti-cancer responses in the blood of treated patients, less than expected results have been observed in terms of increased patient survival. This project aims to understand how the cancer escapes recognition by the immune system and ways to enhance the effects of cancer vaccines.
CHARACTERISATION AND ANTIBODY-MEDIATED TARGETING OF A NOVEL SPECIFIC MARKER FOR T CELL ALL/LYMPHOBLASTIC LYMPHOMA
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$586,146.00
Summary
Improvements in treatment have seen some types of leukaemia (a cancer of white blood cells) being curable in up to 90% of patients with the disease; however, other types of leukaemia do not respond to these drugs and new approaches are needed. We have discovered that some leukaemia cells express a unique protein not made by any other cell type. This project will analyse how this aberrant protein is made and how this process contributes to the development of leukaemia. Also, since this protein is ....Improvements in treatment have seen some types of leukaemia (a cancer of white blood cells) being curable in up to 90% of patients with the disease; however, other types of leukaemia do not respond to these drugs and new approaches are needed. We have discovered that some leukaemia cells express a unique protein not made by any other cell type. This project will analyse how this aberrant protein is made and how this process contributes to the development of leukaemia. Also, since this protein is unique to the leukaemia cells, it offers the opportunity to develop magic bullets able to target specifically to the leukaemia cells and to kill them. This project aims to make one such drug and to conduct preliminary testing.Read moreRead less
The Molecular Basis Of HLA-linked Drug Hypersensivity Reactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,040.00
Summary
Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of death in hospitalised patients. We have discovered a new mechanism that links these reactions to recognition of drug induced changes in immunological self, resulting from interactions of drugs with immune receptors. This project probes the generality of this mechanism by examining the basis of life threatening reactions to drugs used to treat epilepsy (carbamazepine), gout (allopurinol), HIV (Nevirapine) and towards aspirin a commonly used ....Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of death in hospitalised patients. We have discovered a new mechanism that links these reactions to recognition of drug induced changes in immunological self, resulting from interactions of drugs with immune receptors. This project probes the generality of this mechanism by examining the basis of life threatening reactions to drugs used to treat epilepsy (carbamazepine), gout (allopurinol), HIV (Nevirapine) and towards aspirin a commonly used pharmaceutical.Read moreRead less