Statistical Methods for Discovering Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) contributing to human diseases and phenotypes. Identifying the causative genetic factors involved in quantitative phenotypes and diseases is a major goal of biology in the 21st century and beyond. A crucial step towards this goal is identifying and classifying the functional non-protein-coding Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) encoded in the human genome. This project will make major contributions to international efforts in this area by identi ....Statistical Methods for Discovering Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) contributing to human diseases and phenotypes. Identifying the causative genetic factors involved in quantitative phenotypes and diseases is a major goal of biology in the 21st century and beyond. A crucial step towards this goal is identifying and classifying the functional non-protein-coding Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) encoded in the human genome. This project will make major contributions to international efforts in this area by identifying RNA molecules that contribute to quantitative phenotypes including susceptibility to disease. As such, it will directly benefit fundamental science via the discovery and classification of new molecules. Indirectly, it will lead to breakthroughs in biology, and consequently to major medical and pharmaceutical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disease.Read moreRead less
Preclinical Development Of A Therapeutic Anticancer Antibody To C-Met
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,530.00
Summary
Many common cancers cannot be effectively treated. A range of these cancers (e.g. gastric and lung cancer) display the molecule c-Met on their cell surface. c-Met promotes tumour growth; therefore, blocking c-Met is a promising strategy for treating these cancers. However, no antibodies or drugs that target c-Met have been licensed. The therapeutics that are being developed to target c-Met all have considerable limitations. Thus, there is an opportunity to develop a 'best-in-class' therapeutic.
Generating a targeted mutation resource in zebrafish. How do genes function to build organisms and how are they regulated to produce organs and tissues? Using a new technique to target specific genes in the genome of zebrafish, this project will determine how genes control formation of different tissues. The new gene "knockout" technology will fundamentally change our understanding of how genes work during development.
An Integrated Approach For The Efffective Adoptive Immunotherapy Of Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,119.00
Summary
Killer T lymphocytes can penetrate tumors and their transfer into cancer patients has demonstrated some encouraging results, but this form of immunotherapy remain ineffective in most cancer patients. We propose to improve the tumor trafficking and anti-tumor activities of killer cells by genetically engineering them with proteins that will enable them to recognise and destroy cancer cells. The outcomes of this project will validate this novel approach for treatment of cancer patients.
Utilization Of Gene-engineered T Cells For Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$761,656.00
Summary
Killer T lymphocytes can penetrate tumours and their transfer into cancer patients has demonstrated some encouraging results, but this form of therapy and other approaches including vaccination remain ineffective in most cancer patients. In this project, we propose to improve the tumour trafficking and anti-tumour activities of killer cells by genetically engineering them with proteins that will enable them to recognise and destroy cancer cells, whilst minimizing toxicity to normal tissue.
New Strategies For Enhancing Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy For Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,540.00
Summary
The role of the immune system in cancer is now recognised as highly important, highlighted by the success of immunotherapy in patients. Yet many patients fail to respond to this form of treatment due to low frequency of lymphocytes present at the tumor site. A new form of immunotherapy involving transfer of gene-modified lymphocytes is a potential way to overcome this problem. This project will explore new strategies to enhance the utility of this approach against blood and solid cancers.
Generating Stronger And Smarter T Cells For Cancer Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,332.00
Summary
White blood cells from cancer patients can be modified in the laboratory to react against tumours. These cells can then be given back to the patient, which can sometimes cause cancer regression. However, often the white blood cells lack strength, or they lack the ability to distinguish between tumour and normal tissues of the body. In this project we seek to make stronger and smarter white blood cells that can deliver a lethal hit against tumours without damaging essential organs of the body.
Gene targeting in the rat germ cell. The rat plays a central role in both medical research and the drug development process. Unfortunately key technologies supporting the genetic modification of the rat are currently unavailable. The development of such technology would dramatically improve the utility of the rat in many areas of medical research as well as for the pharmaceutical industry. This project proposes to develop methods to perform gene targeting experiments in the germ cells of the ....Gene targeting in the rat germ cell. The rat plays a central role in both medical research and the drug development process. Unfortunately key technologies supporting the genetic modification of the rat are currently unavailable. The development of such technology would dramatically improve the utility of the rat in many areas of medical research as well as for the pharmaceutical industry. This project proposes to develop methods to perform gene targeting experiments in the germ cells of the male rat. Successful manipulation of these cells will represent a major breakthrough towards the ultimate goal of manipulating the rat genome.Read moreRead less