Resolving Eosinophil And Inflammatory Heterogeneity In Chronic Allergic Airway Disease For Safer, Effective And Lasting Precision Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,166,165.00
Summary
Many patients with upper airway inflammation and asthma have poorly controlled disease and are in need of new effective therapies. We have discovered new cell subsets in the airways of these patients. We will use cutting edge single cell and spatial analysis of human tissues to define human allergic disease and inflammatory cells at unprecedented resolution. This will identify new targets for treatment and match patients with effective therapies to facilitate precision therapy.
Targeting The Shared Beta-chain Of The IL-3, IL-5 And GM-CSF Receptors As Therapy For Allergic Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$610,037.00
Summary
This research aims to develop new treatments for allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, which remain significant public health problems in Australia. We will develop therapies targeting a common receptor pathway with the potential to completely suppress acute and chronic disease whilst maintaining a single molecular target. We will perform preclinical testing of antibodies for treatment of allergic disorders using a novel mouse strain expressing the human form of this receptor
Role Of IL-3 In Allergic Inflammation: Modulation Of Basophils, Mast Cells, Eosinophils And Remodelling In Asthma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,380.00
Summary
Asthma is an important disease in the Australian community. We will investigate how the underlying inflammation in this disease is controlled and will focus our studies on a hormone-like regulator of the immune system called interleukin-3. Our hypothesis is that interleukin-3 regulates basophils, mast cells and remodelling of the airways which are central features of asthma. This study will give a better understanding of how the inflammation is caused and information for new drug targets.
Influence Of Early-life Viral Infection On Severity Of Murine Chronic Asthma And Acute Exacerbations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,528.00
Summary
This project examines the relationship between certain childhood infections with respiratory viruses and the progression of asthma later in life. The experimental work will use mouse models of mild chronic asthma and of an acute exacerbation of the illness -- these unique models have been developed in the laboratories of the chief investigators. It will employ the most appropriate mouse models of infection by the relevant group of viruses. We expect to obtain new information about mechanisms of ....This project examines the relationship between certain childhood infections with respiratory viruses and the progression of asthma later in life. The experimental work will use mouse models of mild chronic asthma and of an acute exacerbation of the illness -- these unique models have been developed in the laboratories of the chief investigators. It will employ the most appropriate mouse models of infection by the relevant group of viruses. We expect to obtain new information about mechanisms of airway inflammation and airway hyper-reactivity, which are characteristic features of chronic asthma and of acute exacerbations. This could help to identify candidate signalling molecules and pathways that could be targeted by new treatments. The findings might also provide a basis for development of ways to modify the immune response after respiratory viral infection in childhood.Read moreRead less
The Role Of MicroRNAs As New Anti-inflammatory Targets For The Treatment Of Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$625,655.00
Summary
Asthma is a significant health and economic burden to our society and its prevalence has increased over the last 25 years. New ways of treating asthma are urgently required as current therapeutics treat the symptoms and not the cause of the disease. Asthma is widely thought to be due to the abnormal accumulation of white blood cells (inflammation) in the lungs of diseased individuals. In this project we are exploring new advanced ways to inhibit inflammation and the development of disease.
The Mechanisms Underlying Pneumoviral-induced Angiogenesis Of The Lung And Its Impact On The Asthmatic Response.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,625.00
Summary
Asthma, is a serious respiratory disease resulting in structural changes to the lung and breathing difficulties, and is often compounded by respiratory viruses. We have shown that viral infection of newborn mice causes the growth of new blood vessels in the lungs (a feature seen in human asthmatics). This project will investigate the mechanisms involved and determine the potential of this feature as a therapeutic target.
Modulation Of Asthmatic Airway Inflammation By Activation Of Epithelial Proteinase Activated Receptors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,912.00
Summary
Children and adults feel the symptoms of asthma because their airways close up too easily. We have discovered a new mechanism that the healthy lung uses to keep airways open. The epithelial cells which line the airway release an enzyme that cuts of a small part of another protein, called a PAR receptor, that sits on the same cell. When this happens the epithelial cell releases relaxing substances from their lower surface. The relaxing substances keep the airways open. This grant application is d ....Children and adults feel the symptoms of asthma because their airways close up too easily. We have discovered a new mechanism that the healthy lung uses to keep airways open. The epithelial cells which line the airway release an enzyme that cuts of a small part of another protein, called a PAR receptor, that sits on the same cell. When this happens the epithelial cell releases relaxing substances from their lower surface. The relaxing substances keep the airways open. This grant application is designed to test whether the relaxing system also stops the airways from developing inflammation. If the relaxing system does this we will be able to use the knowlege we have that lets us activate the PAR receptors artificially to design new types of drugs. These drugs would be better than existing asthma drugs because they would prevent inflammation and relax the airways at the same time. These drugs could also be useful in other lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis.Read moreRead less
Airway fibrosis or scaring causes significant morbidity in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma . These diseases affect 10-15% of the population, and cost the health system $1.15 billion per year. Airway fibrosis is not decreased by the current therapeutics used to treat COPD and asthma, and as such there is a pressing need to develop therapeutics to specifically treat airway fibrosis. Dr Brian Oliver has partnered with Pharmaxis to develop new therapeutics to specificall ....Airway fibrosis or scaring causes significant morbidity in both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma . These diseases affect 10-15% of the population, and cost the health system $1.15 billion per year. Airway fibrosis is not decreased by the current therapeutics used to treat COPD and asthma, and as such there is a pressing need to develop therapeutics to specifically treat airway fibrosis. Dr Brian Oliver has partnered with Pharmaxis to develop new therapeutics to specifically treat fibrosisRead moreRead less