Developing Novel Selective Glycine Receptor Potentiators As A Means To Control Pain.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,647.00
Summary
It has been estimated that >3M Australians suffer from pain at a cost to the economy of >$34B, with chronic pain (persisting beyond 1-6 mths) accounting for ~half this burden. There is an urgent and compelling social and economic case for the development of safer and more effective pain therapeutics. This project takes inspiration from a new class of Australian marine natural products that selectively regulate a key pain pathway, and will optimize and develop these as a new class of pain d ....It has been estimated that >3M Australians suffer from pain at a cost to the economy of >$34B, with chronic pain (persisting beyond 1-6 mths) accounting for ~half this burden. There is an urgent and compelling social and economic case for the development of safer and more effective pain therapeutics. This project takes inspiration from a new class of Australian marine natural products that selectively regulate a key pain pathway, and will optimize and develop these as a new class of pain drug.Read moreRead less
The Role Of BMP Signalling During Chronic Demyelination And Myelin Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$67,381.00
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting young adults. It is a disease that kills myelin cells, which are important support cells for neurons and critical for neuronal function. This research investigates the role of a specific signaling pathway with respect to myelin cell production and repair with the ultimate aim of identifying regenerative therapeutics for MS.
Investigating Interleukin-37 As A Treatment And Biomarker For Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$677,857.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the defining healthcare condition of our generation. Finding asymptomatic at risk individuals at preclinical stages will allow initiation of therapies that will either slow or, preferably, stop the progression of the disease. Herein, we will study a protein called interleukin-37 as an early biomarker and treatment for AD.
ENDOGENOUS PAIN RELIEF IN HEALTHY AND OSTEOARTHRITIC PATIENTS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,926.00
Summary
Pain has a detrimental impact on ones quality of life and a significant financial impact on the community. Given this, there is a substantial effort aimed at developing pain relieving compounds. One way in which our own brain can provide complete pain relief is via a mechanism called diffuse noxious inhibitory control. We currently do not know how this mechanism works and the aim of this investigation is to explore this mechanism in healthy and osteoarthritis patients use human brain imaging.
The fundamental problem with pain is that it cannot be seen. We can see injury, but pain and injury are quite often not related. Brain imaging has demonstrated consistent patterns of activity when we feel pain, and long-term changes that happen in chronic, i.e. persistent, painful disorders. This project will use the best technology available to investigate the basics of how our brains perceive pain, and to shed light on some of the brain mechanisms that underpin chronic pain.
REVERSIBLE AND IRREVERSIBLE TNF-MEDIATED COGNITIVE DECLINE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,460.00
Summary
This proposal seeks to clarify the neuronal mechanisms underlying the inflammatory processing leading to cognitive decline. Furthermore, the research project identifies anti-inflammatory treatment options aiming at improved cognitive performance in people at risk for or suffering from cognitive impairment of neuropsychiatric disorders such as dementia and depression.
Interleukin-6 -gp130 Signaling And Actions In The CNS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,092.00
Summary
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a member of a family of cytokine proteins that may be causative factors in many neurological disorders where they are involved in diverse processes including inflammation, neuronal injury and repair. In this project we will study how IL-6 affects the brain to bring about these outcomes. The results of this work will advance our understanding of how members of this cytokine family function and how they contribute to neurological disease.
Pain has a detrimental impact on ones quality of life and a significant financial impact on the community. It has recently been revealed that chronic pain is associated with altered brain anatomy and function. Using human brain imaging, we aim to determine the underlying reason for these changes by following individuals during the development of pain. Defining the mechanism underlying pain will aid in the development of better treatment regimens.
Investigating Cortical Plasticity And Connectivity In People With Chronic Low Back Pain And Controls Using Combined TMS_EEG
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Little is known about the factors that predispose the development of chronic low back pain or what changes underpin effective treatment. Brain changes, thought to reflect adaptive processes are associated with chronic pain, but the extent of their contribution to CLBP is unknown. By measuring the adaptability of brain changes in people with CLBP I will determine if they differ from healthy controls in a way that predisposes them to develop chronic pain and is related to treatment response.
Identifying The Neural Signature Of Persistent Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,094.00
Summary
Chronic pain affects over 20% of Australians. Despite its high prevalence, it is relativly resistant to current treatment regimes and part of the reason behind our inadequate ability to provide satisfactory pain relief is due to our limited understanding of the pathophysiology that underlies this condition. This proposal will develop a novel understanding of the central neuroplastic changes associated with chronic pain and the role that these changes play in the maintenance of these conditions.