Improving Therapeutic Delivery By Understanding Nanoparticle Interactions With Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,152.00
Summary
Nanotechnology has the potential to transform the way we treat many diseases. This project will investigate how nanoengineered particles can be used to improve the effectiveness of vaccines. Nanoparticles can protect the delicate vaccine cargo from degradation, and will be targeted specifically to the cells in the body that most effectively induce the maximum theraputic response. This study will improve our understanding of how nanovaccines work and develop new ways of delivering vaccines.
A Targeted Approach To Age Related Disease: Nanomedicines And The Liver Sinusoidal Endothelium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,241.00
Summary
Cells that line the liver blood vessels undergo predictable and distinct changes with age that increase the risk of developing diseases of older age like Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. We can now selectively target the changes in the liver cells with nanomedicines to prevent and treat these changes. The implications of this study are vast – a new therapy for the prevention and treatment of age-related cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The Use Of Gene-Silencing Nanodrugs To Inhibit Lung Cancer Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,950.00
Summary
Lung cancer accounts for the most cancer deaths worldwide. This research proposal will use state-of-the-art nanomedicines designed to penetrate lung tumours and suppress a gene which drives cancer growth and resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Our results could underpin new approaches that revolutionise more effective and less toxic treatments for a highly lethal malignancy.
Immuno-polymeric Drugs For Prostate Cancer Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,995.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over 50 and the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths in Western society. Docetaxel is the first line of chemotherapy when other intervention strategies are unsuccessful, but 30% of patients suffer from severe side-effects. To address this problem, we will utilise carriers for docetaxel that directly target prostate tumours using a novel antibody approach. This increases accumulation at the tumour site while decreasing off-target toxicity.
A Self-assembling And Self-adjuvanting Nanoparticular Therapeutic Vaccine Against Cervical Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,858.00
Summary
One in every three Australians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime according to the Australia Cancer Foundation. The proposed project aims to develop pathogen-like bullets based on self-organized nanoparticles which would become a strong weapon against cervical cancer.