Glycine Transporters regulate the concentration of glycine in the spinal cord and brain. It has been suggested that elevating glycine levels in these regions may be useful in treating pain and schizophrenia. This project will provide the basis for the development of new glycine transport inhibitors that may be used to treat these conditions.
State-dependence Of Drug Binding To HERG K+ Channels.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,224.00
Summary
In recent years, it has become apparent that a wide range of prescription drugs can cause inadvertent inhibition of a potassium channel in the heart known as hERG, resulting in an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias and death. This has prompted the withdrawal from the market of 9 drugs and the introduction of mandatory testing of all drugs for inhibition of hERG channels. In this proposal we seek a molecular explanation for the promiscuity of drug binding to hERG channels
Identification Of Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Targets For Cardiotoxic Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,986.00
Summary
Anthracyclines are drugs which are used successfully in chemotherapy. Unfortunately, these drugs can lead to serious heart problems which sometimes result in death, and the mechanisms behind this remain elusive. Finding the specific targets of these drugs and how these drugs affect heart contraction may lead to designing drug cocktails which protect the heart from side effects.
Enhancing Peripheral Clearance Of Beta Amyloid As A Treatment For Alzheimers Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,681.00
Summary
Amyloid-beta (abeta) accumulation in the brain is a key step in the development of Alzheimer's disease, with potential therapies focusing on its clearance. Compounds that bind abeta in blood have been shown to alter brain abeta levels. We will assess the efficacy of a novel abeta-binding peptide to promote peripheral clearance of brain-derived abeta in a mouse model of AD. Such a drug would be effective in sporadic AD, where the efflux transport, clearance and degradation systems are defective.