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Allergies and chronic respiratory diseases are major causes of illness and death in Australia. Worryingly there are still many gaps in knowledge on how best to prevent and manage these diseases. The proposed program will investigate these questions and provide evidence to guide health policy and clinical management. As this program is built on state-of the-art methods and technology, these original Australian findings will be of great importance internationally.
Epidemiological Investigation Of The Role Of Early Life Environment In The Development Of Immune Function And Allergic And Autoimmune Disease: Knowledge Generation For Future Primary Prevention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,584.00
Summary
Immune diseases, which include allergic and autoimmune diseases, are accounting for an increasing fraction of the disease burden in Australia. It is now increasingly recognised that early life changes to the immune system by environmental factors can impact on the risk of these diseases. The goal of this fellowship is the prevention of allergic and autoimmune disease.
Early Life Exposures And Chronic Disease: Mechanisms And Preventative Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,980.00
Summary
The world is facing an epidemic of chronic disease and adverse environmental exposures in early life are partly responsible. One reason why we have not been able to do more to prevent this is the lack of appropriate methods for measuring environmental exposures during pregnancy and infancy. My research will develop and validate methods for measuring exposures early life and the health consequences of these exposures with the aim of developing preventative interventions
B Cell Survival And Responsiveness In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$664,584.00
Summary
I am an immunologist focused on identifying how B lymphocytes, the cells responsible for producing antibodies, survive and participate in immune responses within the body. I achieve this by using specially designed, genetically modified, mice that allow me to follow B lymphocytes within the body and identify their key genetic and external controls. My work is relevant to vaccine development as well as the control of certain autoimmune diseases and B lymphocyte cancers.
Immunological Prevention Of Cysticercosis And Hydatid Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$802,685.00
Summary
Professor Lightowlers’ has developed the world’s most effective vaccines against diseases caused by parasites. The vaccines prevent transmission of parasites from livestock animals to humans. During the next 5 years the vaccines will be produced on a large scale and evaluated in field trials. The products of this research program will make a major contribution to reducing the number of people suffering from parasitic cysts.
My work focuses on the prevention of vascular disease. A major aim of mine is to improve outcome after stroke. We can test this by assessing whether individualised management plans provided to people with stroke will improve risk factors. Proper risk factor management reduces the risk of stroke recurrence. I also aim to reduce the burden of vascular disease in disadvantaged settings by finding out what risk factors are important in the development of these diseases in people living in poverty.
Identifying Novel Targets To Treat And Prevent Diabetic Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,209.00
Summary
Diabetes is the leading cause for kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation. Diabetic patients also have a higher risk to suffer from heart attacks, stroke and amputations in particular once kidney damage occurs. Current strategies fail to completely protect patients from complications. My research will uncover knowledge gaps in our understanding of diabetes complications, identify new targets ultimately leading to urgently needed more effective treatments and prevention strategies to ....Diabetes is the leading cause for kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation. Diabetic patients also have a higher risk to suffer from heart attacks, stroke and amputations in particular once kidney damage occurs. Current strategies fail to completely protect patients from complications. My research will uncover knowledge gaps in our understanding of diabetes complications, identify new targets ultimately leading to urgently needed more effective treatments and prevention strategies to reduce the burden of disease in diabetes.Read moreRead less
Although the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases have been known for decades, and modern-day treatment is much advanced, the importance of these diseases persists, such that they remain the number one killer in Australia. This suggests that more can be done to correctly identify those at high and moderate risk of future disease, so as to optimize advice and medical treatment. This project will use the best evidence available to develop new methods of risk prediction and prevention.
I am a matrix biologist determining the molecular mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets for fibrosis (tissue scarring). In particular, my research, which has a strong translational focus, is involved with elucidating the anti-fibrotic potential of the relaxin peptide-hormones (either alone or as an adjunct therapies to existing/other novel treatments) – as a means of developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cardiac and renal fibrosis.
Immune Imprinting By Nanoparticles And Vaccines: New Principles And Translation Into The Clinic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
Vaccines require adjuvants to be effective. Despite decades of research there is only one adjuvant approved for broad use in humans. Based on our prior findings I will engage new principles in nanotechnology, and deepen understanding of immune imprinting in various organs of the body including the lung, to develop 2nd generation broadly useful nanoadjuvants able to effectively treat cancer and malaria.