Understanding Burn Injuries In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Children: Treatment, Access To Services And Outcomes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$911,798.00
Summary
This is the first large scale study to systematically examine the burden of burn injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, including care and cost of treatment, and relationship between access to treatment and functional outcomes. With a team comprising epidemiologists, burns clinicans and Aboriginal health researchers, this study will generate important new research evidence to improve care in this over-represented and vulnerable population.
Mechanism Of Flightless I Function In Burn Injury And Scar Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$545,216.00
Summary
Extensive scarring is a major clinical problem often resulting from burn injuries. We have previously shown that the cytoskeletal protein, Flightless I (FliI), is an important regulator of wound repair. We now plan to investigate whether FliI is also be the mechanistic link between cytoskeletal remodelling and induction of TGF-betas post-wounding leading to scar formation.
Elastaderm: An Improved Human Skin Substitute For Treating Burns
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$326,316.00
Summary
We will focus on proof of concept needed for the commercialisation of improved dermal replacements designed to repair severe skin burns. These novel dermal replacements are a substantial development of and improvement beyond existing technology because they are intended to reduce wound contraction and increase elasticity.
Improving The Pre-hospital Treatment And Acute Management Of Burned Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,942.00
Summary
Children’s burns are physically and psychologically debilitating and are a huge burden for the children themselves, their families and the Australian health care system. My work will determine exactly what conditions are required to cause burns so that we can act to prevent them. I will also develop more effective first aid treatment and new treatments to improve burn wound healing.
Quality Of Life, Associated Psychological And Economic Family Impacts, And Trajectory Of Recovery In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Paediatric Burns Patients.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,117.00
Summary
Over a third of burns injuries in Australia are paediatric, with over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Burns are a major injury, having devastating long term consequences, connected to psychological distress, trauma, cost and disability. This research focusses on quality of life measures, economic impacts and psychological distress, investigating enabling and inhibitory factors to burns recovery in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their family.
Development Of Flightless Antibody Therapy For Treating Wounds
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$194,071.00
Summary
Chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers, injuries in response to trauma, burns and scalds form a medical need which will only expand as the population ages and the diabetic epidemic grows. In our studies, we have shown that Flightless I (FliI), an actin-remodelling protein, is a negative regulator of incisional wound healing. We are now developing a new antibody therapy to reduce FliI levels in wounds thereby leading to improved wound repair outcomes.
Improved Ex-vivo Culture Of Keratinocytes For Clinical Applications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,203.00
Summary
Skin cells grown for clinical applications currently require animal-derived cells and-or non-defined products for their expansion in the laboratory; these reagents can potentially infect patients who receive these therapies. This project will identify the essential components provided by these reagents and develop a fully synthetic and defined culture system. This improvement will provide safer, cost-effective grafts and cell-based therapies that will benefit patients suffering burns and wounds.
Genetic Dissection Of The Biogenesis And Function Of Type IV Fimbriae Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,545.00
Summary
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium which causes serious life-threatening infections of individuals with cystic fibrosis, AIDS or who have suffered severe burns or are undergoing cancer chemotherapy. This pathogen, and a number of other important infectious bacteria use surface filaments, called fimbriae, like grappling hooks to attach to the cells of the body and to move across host tissues. These fimbriae are produced in response to environmental conditions, and are assembled by a pro ....Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium which causes serious life-threatening infections of individuals with cystic fibrosis, AIDS or who have suffered severe burns or are undergoing cancer chemotherapy. This pathogen, and a number of other important infectious bacteria use surface filaments, called fimbriae, like grappling hooks to attach to the cells of the body and to move across host tissues. These fimbriae are produced in response to environmental conditions, and are assembled by a process that is also used in the export of toxins and other pathogenic molecules. This project will characterise genes which specify and control this system, as a means to design better treatments against such bacteria, many of which are resistant to antibiotic treatment.Read moreRead less
Integrin Intracellular Transport, Expression And Function In Macrophages Regulates Inflammation During Wound Healing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$434,134.00
Summary
Burns are one of the most common and devastating forms of trauma; 70% occur in young children. Burns scars may be aesthetically disfiguring and functionally disabling, as well as psychosocially damaging. The study will identify how macrophages enter, function and persist in a burn wound to regulate inflammation, which if prolonged results in delayed healing and excess scar formation, and will generate multiple targets for potential future wound healing therapies.