Novel Therapeutic Strategies For Pancreatic Cancer Using Next Generation Sequencing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,892.00
Summary
Dr David Chang is a surgeon scientist who specialises in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. His research focus is on the development and implementation of novel therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer. He aims to achieve this by utilising novel biomarkers that have the ability to forecast prognosis and response to treatments. Ultimately, this will lead to the “individualised” treatment for each patient.
Understanding The Clinical Significance Of Tumour Genomic Architecture And Host Immune Response In Breast Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,732.00
Summary
This study uses sophisticated DNA sequencing technologies to help patients and their doctors better understand and treat breast cancer. It also tries to understand how the cancer DNA may change over time, and if this is important to how the cancer is treated. In addition, it looks for a link between the DNA changes in a tumour and the anti-tumour immune response, which may help identify patients that could benefit from immunotherapy in the future.
Elucidating The Function Of Rho-ROCK Signalling In The Regulation Of Cancer Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,568.00
Summary
As cancers progress from benign to more malignant forms, the way in which cancer cells respond to external influences changes dramatically. These cells subvert the normal interactions between proteins which pass signals from outside the cell to the inside, to control cell behaviour and assume a survival advantage. We plan to study a form of cell signalling that is often abnormal in cancer in order to identify technologies for limiting cancer growth and spread by interfering with these signals.
Tumours secrete factors which are contained in specific structures called exosomes, and are used to prepare other organs of the body for subsequently incoming tumour cells, thereby facilitating the often mortal spread of the cancer. This project will investigate the way exosomes alter organs before tumour cells arrive, the composition of these exosomes in lung cancer patients and if they are novel markers for diseases progression as well as therapeutic intervention.
New Treatments For Epitheliod Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$647,267.00
Summary
Epithelioid Inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma (eIMS) is a rare aggressive cancer, most common in of childhood and young adults. This cancer has been scarcely studied due to its rarity and is not cured by standard chemotherapeutic regimes. Our investigations will extensively characterise eIMS samples from recently diagnosed patients, and apply a new laboratory model to discover more effective drugs and improve treatment outcomes.
Molecular Determinants Of Risk, Progression And Treatement Response In Melenoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$12,947,193.00
Summary
Melanoma is a major Australian health problem. It is the third most common cancer in men and women and has a disproportionately heavy impact on productive years of life because it is the common cause of cancer death in younger adults. The investigators are all associated with the Melanoma Institute Australia, incorporating the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU). MIA is the world’s largest clinical service dedicated to the treatment of melanoma, treating >1500 new melanoma patients annually and mainta ....Melanoma is a major Australian health problem. It is the third most common cancer in men and women and has a disproportionately heavy impact on productive years of life because it is the common cause of cancer death in younger adults. The investigators are all associated with the Melanoma Institute Australia, incorporating the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU). MIA is the world’s largest clinical service dedicated to the treatment of melanoma, treating >1500 new melanoma patients annually and maintains a repository of clinical data on melanoma and a large melanoma tissue bank. The Program has also recruited large numbers of people from the community, as well as people with a strong family history of melanoma, in order to study its causes. It aims to utilise these internationally-recognised resources to develop a scientific basis for 1) improved management of individuals at high risk for development and progression of melanoma, and 2) improved treatment of patients with early and disseminated melanoma, in an era of rapid change in the prospects of successfully treating this dangerous cancer. The Program will do this by consolidating and extending its existing collaborative research, supported by NHMRC since 2006.Read moreRead less
The Australian Centre For Translational Breast Cancer Research: From Discovery To Better Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,619,075.00
Summary
TransBCR will implement a collaborative multidisciplinary research program to help fast track the clinical translation of promising laboratory discoveries in breast cancer. To overcome existing roadblocks, we will carry out early phase clinical trials of novel anti-breast cancer drugs linked to suitable diagnostic tests that help select the right therapy for individual cancer patients. Our goal is to help inform the swift delivery of cost-effective personalised medicine in breast cancer.
Regulation Of Breast Cancer Metastasis By MiR-193b And MiR-342-3p
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$581,537.00
Summary
When breast cancer spreads to other organs, it results in high morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs are a class of genes that control the expression of other genes, some of which are involved in the spread of cancer. In this project we will examine the function of two microRNA species that we have found to be associated with breast cancer spread. The anticipated outcome is a better knowledge of the genes that control cancer spread and the identification of new molecular targets for therapy.
The Ludwig Institute is adopting a two prong approach in the fight against cancer. Ludwig scientists are developing improved and sensitive scanning methods to aid in the conduct of field trials of new anti-cancer antibodies. In addition, they are also developing new targeted anti-cancer antibodies with improved properties that have the ability to bind to tumours while sparing normal tissues. These drugs can either attack the cancer directly or be used to carry drugs to the target thereby shrinki ....The Ludwig Institute is adopting a two prong approach in the fight against cancer. Ludwig scientists are developing improved and sensitive scanning methods to aid in the conduct of field trials of new anti-cancer antibodies. In addition, they are also developing new targeted anti-cancer antibodies with improved properties that have the ability to bind to tumours while sparing normal tissues. These drugs can either attack the cancer directly or be used to carry drugs to the target thereby shrinking the tumour.Read moreRead less
Overweight individuals have an increased risk for developing liver cancer. This may be due to the reduced production of the fat-derived hormone adiponectin. Reduced levels of adiponectin are associated with increased inflammation and liver disease. Using mice not expressing adiponectin we will test its importance in liver cancer growth. The proposed research will provide a better understanding of the factors that promote liver cancer formation.