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Roles Of Impaired Apoptosis And Differentiation In Tumourigenesis And Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$21,656,910.00
Summary
The ten scientific laboratories in this program have joined forces to investigate two ways in which tumours develop. Both are of particular interest, because they suggest new ways in which cancer might be overcome. Most of our tissues are continually renewed throughout life by production of new cells. Therefore many of the old cells in each tissue must die off to maintain the proper cell numbers. To eliminate cells that are no longer needed or have become damaged, the body has developed a remark ....The ten scientific laboratories in this program have joined forces to investigate two ways in which tumours develop. Both are of particular interest, because they suggest new ways in which cancer might be overcome. Most of our tissues are continually renewed throughout life by production of new cells. Therefore many of the old cells in each tissue must die off to maintain the proper cell numbers. To eliminate cells that are no longer needed or have become damaged, the body has developed a remarkable cell suicide process termed apoptosis. Unfortunately, however, occasionally a random accident to the genes in one of our cells prevents the machinery for apoptosis from being turned on. In that case, the cell will not die when it should and, by continually dividing, it may eventually give rise to a cancer. Since most cancer cells still retain most of the machinery for apoptosis, however, a drug that could switch on this natural cell death machinery would provide a promising new approach to cancer therapy. Identifying and developing such drugs is one major long-term goal of this program. The other focus of our program concerns stem cells. These are rare cells with the remarkable ability to generate an entire tissue. For example, one of our laboratories has identified stem cells that can generate all the cells in the breast. The almost unlimited regenerative capacity of stem cells has a built-in danger. If a stem cell acquires the ability to proliferate excessively, it can go on to form a tumour. Indeed, many cancer researchers now suspect that rare stem cells within a tumour cause its inexorable growth. If tumour growth is maintained by stem cells, it will be essential to develop new forms of therapy that target these rare cancer stem cells rather than merely the bulk of the tumour cells. This is another key long-term goal of our program.Read moreRead less
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is threatening the health of this nation and if unchecked will cripple our health care system. There are several problems: (1) The incidence of T2D is growing and we do not fully know why; (2) T2D involves defective insulin action but how insulin works normally is still unclear; (3) much research in this area is performed in laboratory cells or animals and the translation of this research to the human disease is yet to be fully realised; and (4) current therapies and diagno ....Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is threatening the health of this nation and if unchecked will cripple our health care system. There are several problems: (1) The incidence of T2D is growing and we do not fully know why; (2) T2D involves defective insulin action but how insulin works normally is still unclear; (3) much research in this area is performed in laboratory cells or animals and the translation of this research to the human disease is yet to be fully realised; and (4) current therapies and diagnostic markers for early disease prediction are inadequate. Our goal is to make progress in each of these areas.Read moreRead less
Immune Regulation, Effector Function And Human Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$11,474,346.00
Summary
The immune system plays an important role in protecting the host from viral and bacterial infections, and inhibits cancer onset and progression. Immune processes proceed through specialised cells in conjunction with soluble factors such as inteferons and interleukins. These soluble factors can regulate the activities of immune cells, and inhibit the growth and survival of aberrant (virus infected, cancer) cells. Unfortunately, the immune system can sometimes lose specificity and attack the host, ....The immune system plays an important role in protecting the host from viral and bacterial infections, and inhibits cancer onset and progression. Immune processes proceed through specialised cells in conjunction with soluble factors such as inteferons and interleukins. These soluble factors can regulate the activities of immune cells, and inhibit the growth and survival of aberrant (virus infected, cancer) cells. Unfortunately, the immune system can sometimes lose specificity and attack the host, resulting in autoimmune diseases such as diabetes. This research team has played a vital role in characterising the specific activities of immune cells and the associated factors. Importantly, they are deciphering the intricate communication networks of these immune components and dissecting their modes of action. By understanding these complex processes, the team aims to harness the unique therapeutic properties of our own immune system and translate their findings into the clinic. The team is developing new immune-based therapies for use, either alone or in combination with existing chemotherapies to fight debilitating human diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disease.Read moreRead less
Malaria: From Target Identification And Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,276,440.00
Summary
The team brings together a number of experts in various aspects of malaria, vaccines and drug design to develop new therapeutic approaches to control of one of the world�s major infectious diseases. Recent developments such as the complete sequence of every malaria gene provides an unparalleled opportunity to use a number of powerful new techniques in biology to identify vulnerabilities in the parasite that may be targeted. Members of the team include Professor von Itzstein who was responsible f ....The team brings together a number of experts in various aspects of malaria, vaccines and drug design to develop new therapeutic approaches to control of one of the world�s major infectious diseases. Recent developments such as the complete sequence of every malaria gene provides an unparalleled opportunity to use a number of powerful new techniques in biology to identify vulnerabilities in the parasite that may be targeted. Members of the team include Professor von Itzstein who was responsible for the design of the anti-flu drug Relenza, Professor Ross Coppel who is a pioneer in the application of molecular biology to the study of malaria, and Drs Cooke and Plebanski, exciting and talented young scientists who already have made highly significant and important contributions to our understanding of how malaria parasites function and cause disease. Success in this research program has the capacity to save millions of lives each year by preventing the deadly toll of this important human scourge.Read moreRead less
Molecular Markers Of Phenotype, Therapeutic Responsiveness And Prognosis In Human Cancers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$11,762,117.00
Summary
This proposal aims to identify molecular markers that can be used to classify subtypes of particular cancers according to their prognosis and response to therapy. This will optimise selection of patients for the most appropriate treatment and lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Molecular Determinants Of Risk, Progression And Treatement Response In Melenoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$12,947,193.00
Summary
Melanoma is a major Australian health problem. It is the third most common cancer in men and women and has a disproportionately heavy impact on productive years of life because it is the common cause of cancer death in younger adults. The investigators are all associated with the Melanoma Institute Australia, incorporating the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU). MIA is the world’s largest clinical service dedicated to the treatment of melanoma, treating >1500 new melanoma patients annually and mainta ....Melanoma is a major Australian health problem. It is the third most common cancer in men and women and has a disproportionately heavy impact on productive years of life because it is the common cause of cancer death in younger adults. The investigators are all associated with the Melanoma Institute Australia, incorporating the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU). MIA is the world’s largest clinical service dedicated to the treatment of melanoma, treating >1500 new melanoma patients annually and maintains a repository of clinical data on melanoma and a large melanoma tissue bank. The Program has also recruited large numbers of people from the community, as well as people with a strong family history of melanoma, in order to study its causes. It aims to utilise these internationally-recognised resources to develop a scientific basis for 1) improved management of individuals at high risk for development and progression of melanoma, and 2) improved treatment of patients with early and disseminated melanoma, in an era of rapid change in the prospects of successfully treating this dangerous cancer. The Program will do this by consolidating and extending its existing collaborative research, supported by NHMRC since 2006.Read moreRead less
To understand the genetic basis of two of the most important cancers in women, breast and ovarian cancer. The team has already identified one gene that confers a very high risk of breast cancer and may account for a large proportion of 'familial' breast cancer. Their aim is to identify additional predisposition genes and to determine their normal function in the cell, as well as the way in which they contribute to the development of cancer
Gynaecological, Oesophageal And Skin Cancer In Australia: Developing The Evidence-base
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,079,935.00
Summary
Our Program addresses cancers of the ovary, uterus, oesophagus and skin (both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers). The first three cancers together affect almost 4,000 people and cause more than 2,000 deaths every year while skin cancer affects almost 400,000 Australians each year. Our aims are, first, to understand better how these cancers are caused so that we can try to prevent them in the future; second, to enhance diagnosis of these cancers; and third, to improve the survival and qualit ....Our Program addresses cancers of the ovary, uterus, oesophagus and skin (both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers). The first three cancers together affect almost 4,000 people and cause more than 2,000 deaths every year while skin cancer affects almost 400,000 Australians each year. Our aims are, first, to understand better how these cancers are caused so that we can try to prevent them in the future; second, to enhance diagnosis of these cancers; and third, to improve the survival and quality of life for people who are diagnosed with these cancers in Australia.Read moreRead less