Molecular Mechanisms Of Mitotic Progression And The Anti-cancer Properties Of Anti-mitotic Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,492.00
Summary
Mitosis is the final stage of the cell division cycle that produces two daughter cells. Incorrect localisation and modification of proteins that regulate this process cause cell division errors potentially leading to cancer. This project will characterise how key mitotic proteins co-operatively function to complete this process. This research will increase our understanding of the cell division errors that contribute to cancer development, ultimately identifying new targets for cancer therapy.
Developing Personalised Treatment For Retinal Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$262,220.00
Summary
Dr Chen seeks a clinical CDF1 to support his ambition in combining his expertise in clinical management of retinal diseases with a growing track record of clinical trials and laboratory science to develop treatment for retinal degeneration. This is achieved through a patient-centred translational platform that he has established. In the next 5 years, He will identify the most suitable method for measuring progression and develop personalised therapy for a phase I clinical trial.
Interactions Between Haematopoietic, Bone, Vascular And Endocrine Systems Control Stem Cell Fate And Mobilization
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,558.00
Summary
Haemopoietic stem cells (HSC) normally reside in the bone marrow (BM) where they make blood and immune cells. We can force HSC to move from the BM into the blood, a process called mobilisation, used to collect large numbers of HSC for transplantation into cancer patients. My research involves identifying factors that control HSC fate within the BM (that is survival, growth, differentiation) and what happens during mobilisation to force them to leave with the aim of improving transplant success.
Delineating Mechanisms Of Acquired Resistance To Kinase Inhibitors And Devising Novel Strategies To Combat Therapeutic Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
Kinase inhibitors are some of the most successful anti-cancer agents that have emerged in the last 15 years. However, tumors become resistant to these drugs after showing initial response. Understanding mechanisms through which cancer cells become resistant to these drugs will allow us to develop effective strategies to counter it and achieve sustained responses to cancer therapy. I propose to build a research program to systematically study these mechanisms to improve cancer therapeutics.
Cell Therapy For Functional Reconstruction Of Damaged Brain Circuitry
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
Unlike many organs in the body, the brain has an extremely limited capacity to repair itself when damaged. A promising approach for repairing the damaged brain, as may occur through neurodegenerative disease or traumatic brain injury, is to replace the cells lost to the injury by transplanting new ones directly into the brain of the patient. This research proposal involves the use of stem cells to repair damage to the brain caused by Parkinson's disease, stroke or traumatic brain injury.
Development Of Endogenous Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Antagonism As A New Therapeutic Approach To Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,561.00
Summary
Neutrophils play a pivotal role in inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). G-CSF is a growth factor that is important to neutrophil survival and function. We have shown that in the absence of G-CSF the incidence and severity of experimental autoimmune arthritis are reduced. We will investigate the mechanisms by which this occurs as well as studying the effects of G-CSF blockade on function and survival of human neutrophils from healthy donors and RA patients.
Fighting Mental Disorders: Using Mental Imagery To Disarm Symptoms And Enhance Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
This proposal will conduct the first pre-clinical and clinical research utilising mental imagery to disarm symptoms and enhance treatment of multiple mental disorders by controlling the strength of mental imagery. This fellowship represents the first attempt to alleviate symptoms by developing a cognitive-neuroscience method to control the strength of traumatic imagery and to show a causative means of enhancing imagery strength to boost the success rate of cognitive therapy involving imagery.
Refining Treatment Strategies For Youth Depression: Clinical Trials And Biomarker Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,221.00
Summary
Depression is the biggest contributor to disease burden of all illnesses suffered by young people. Despite this existing treatments are often not effective. The Career Development Fellowship will aid efforts to improve treatments for youth depression, by enabling the implementation of important clinical trials, and the identification and development of imaging biomarkers that can help to target treatments at patients most likely to benefit from them.