Improving Cancer Management By Direct Detection With Diffusion-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,549.00
Summary
Despite reliable methods of prostate and breast cancer diagnosis there remains considerable uncertainty as to whether the detected disease will have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life. This uncertainty is largely due to the inability of current detection methods to show the extent of disease. This project will address this problem by developing new MRI methods that directly measure the microscopic tissue properties that define cancer.
Studies On The Pathogenesis And Early Diagnosis Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,082.00
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and worldwide is the third and fifth leading cause of cancer death in men and women respectively. Early diagnosis is vital to patient survival. Our research investigates new methods in the early diagnosis of HCC, including new protein markers of the cancer and non-invasive measurements of liver scarring. We also study the genetics of HCC and investigate new genes that could be targets for future therapies.
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Of Faecal Biomarkers For Colon Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,398.00
Summary
We have identified a number of potential biomarkers present in the stools of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We will use quantitative mass spectrometric techniques that we have developed to validate these biomarkers on a large number of faecal samples from patients with CRC and multiple control groups. We believe these studies will lead to a new panel of biomarkers which will improve the detection of early forms of colon cancer, thus reducing death from this disease.
Proteomic Approaches To Explore The Pathogenesis And Secretomes Of Parasitic Flukes Of Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,320.00
Summary
Ten percent of the human population are at risk of infection with liver, blood and lung flukes. These parasites cause considerable human morbidity and mortality including a strong association with cancer of the bile ducts. Current control efforts rely on drugs, but, reinfection and resistance are a problem. This research is aimed at understanding how these parasites cause disease (particularly how a parasite causes cancer) and the development of vaccines and new drugs.
Massively Parallel Sequencing And PCR Optimised For DNA-based Diagnostics And Discovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$201,664.00
Summary
The next generation of medical diagnostics and discovery in disease research will involve the marriage of PCR, a tool used to amplify large amounts of DNA from small starting quantities, and �next generation� sequencing, a way to sequence lots and lots of DNA on a single instrument run. This study aims to describe methods which allow scientists to screen hundreds of disease genes in hundreds of people simultaneously with high accuracy and high efficiency.
MICRORNA PREDICTORS OF OESOPHAGEAL TUMOUR RESPONSE TO CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$659,990.00
Summary
Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is used for the treatment of oesophageal cancer before surgical resection, and for patients not undergoing surgery. However, it is unsuccessful for many, causing side effects, no clinical gain, and delaying surgery. MicroRNAs are small molecules that control cellular functions. This project will identify miRNA markers which are able to predict cancer response to CRT, and this will help clinical decision making for individualized treatment.
Modelling Epigenomic Change During Early Breast Carcinogenesis Using In Vitro And In Vivo Model Systems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,360.00
Summary
Epigenetics describes how genes can be turned on and off without a change in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes are common and often occur early in cancer, but we do not know where or how epigenetic changes occur in cancer. In this proposal we will create the first detailed map of the epigenetic landscape of normal and cancer breast cells. These maps will allow us to predict where epigenetic lesions occur in breast cancer, which will have important diagnostic and therapeutic value for cancer t ....Epigenetics describes how genes can be turned on and off without a change in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes are common and often occur early in cancer, but we do not know where or how epigenetic changes occur in cancer. In this proposal we will create the first detailed map of the epigenetic landscape of normal and cancer breast cells. These maps will allow us to predict where epigenetic lesions occur in breast cancer, which will have important diagnostic and therapeutic value for cancer treatments.Read moreRead less
A Functional Assay To Classify Genetic Variants In Lynch Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,195.00
Summary
At least one person in every 1000 is affected by Lynch syndrome, in which faulty DNA repair machinery causes high rates of cancer. People with Lynch syndrome can have their risk of cancer cut substantially with regular screening. However, we often struggle to understand whether people with 'non-standard' DNA sequences in particular genes actually have Lynch syndrome. This project develops a simple test that will tell clinicians whether a given sequence change relates to Lynch syndrome or not.
Targeting Activated Platelets: A Novel Innovative Approach For The Sensitive Detection And Therapeutic Targeting Of Various Cancers And Their Metastases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$948,447.00
Summary
Early detection and selective therapy is critical for the survival of patients with cancer. We have shown in pilot experiments that platelets accumulate at the site of tumours and thus provide the opportunity to diagnose and localise cancer and its metastases. Based on this and also newly developed biotechnological tools we aim to develop multiple innovative imaging technologies. Furthermore, we will develop novel tumour-targeted and thus tumour site-specific, side-effect poor cancer treatments.