The Use Of MicroRNA As Novel Therapeutic Targets For Reducing Retinal Inflammation And Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,076.00
Summary
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in Australia. We aim to investigate a new class of potential therapeutics, microRNA which are involved in the regulation of many biological processes, including inflammation. A greater understanding of these miRNA will enable discovery of novel therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases like AMD, and will have further reaching applications in other inflammatory disease such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Implementation Of Dynamic Reference Points And Harvest Strategies To Account For Environmentally-driven Changes In Productivity In Australian Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$552,027.00
Summary
Recently, the risks resulting from not accounting for variability in productivity have become translated into potential risks associated with environmentally driven trends in recruitment, particularly the risk created by ongoing declines in recruitment (and/or growth) driven by climate-change induced trends in water temperature, weather and current patterns.
A number of southeast Australia fish stocks have failed to 'recover' following substantial reductions in catch and effort, and a n ....Recently, the risks resulting from not accounting for variability in productivity have become translated into potential risks associated with environmentally driven trends in recruitment, particularly the risk created by ongoing declines in recruitment (and/or growth) driven by climate-change induced trends in water temperature, weather and current patterns.
A number of southeast Australia fish stocks have failed to 'recover' following substantial reductions in catch and effort, and a number of research projects have concluded that some of these have undergone an environmentally-driven reduction in productivity. A productivity shift has already been demonstrated for Eastern Jackass Morwong, with the stock-recruit relationship and reference points being adjusted to reflect this change. Ecosystem and climate-change modelling have predicted increasing likelihood of similar changes in productivity for a number of Australian fish stocks.
Current harvest strategies assume either equilibrium or some average B0, and associated target (B48) and limit (B20) reference points. Use of equilibrium B0-based reference points and harvest strategies do not correctly reflect the natural dynamics of stocks where productivity changes. This can lead to sub-optimal management, either over-utilising a reduced productivity stock or under-utilising an increased productivity stock. In contrast, reference points based on some proportion of naturally variable unfished biomass (Bunfished or dynamic B0) will fluctuate to follow environmentally-driven productivity changes. Dynamic reference points have been evaluated and adopted for a number of international fisheries.
The need to adapt stock assessment methods and harvest strategies to explicitly and justifiably account for shifts in productivity has been recognised by the AFMA Resource Assessment Group for the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF), not least as a result of clearly evident declines in biomass (Jackass Morwong, Redfish) or recruitment (Silver Warehou) that cannot be attributed to fishing under current productivity assumptions.
Objectives: 1. To review relevant international research and management approaches to account for environmentally-driven productivity change in stock assessments, reference points and harvest strategies for selected Australian fish stocks. 2. To identify and describe circumstances and fish stocks for which dynamic reference points should or should not be used in stock assessments and harvest strategies, and develop appropriate methodology for conducting assessments using dynamic reference points. 3. To identify selected candidate fish stocks showing likely environmentally-driven productivity change, conduct comparative assessments for these stocks using equilibrium and dynamic reference points, and prepare a candidate harvest strategy that includes dynamic reference points for testing in the FRDC Multi-Species Harvest Strategy project. 4. To make recommendations on future implementation of dynamic reference points and harvest strategies for Australian fish stocks. 5. To develop and improve methods for detecting and quantifying changes in productivity (growth and recruitment) in stock assessments, to relate these to environmental mechanisms causing productivity changes, and to evaluate data needs, including environmental indices, required to usefully detect and evaluate productivity change under various circumstances. 6. To consider and evaluate options for effective harvest control rules, incorporating dynamic reference points, that might appropriately respond to changes in fish stock productivity, including environmentally driven trends in productivity. 7. To identify environmental circumstances and fish stock characteristics under which it would be appropriate and advisable to move to using assessments and management approaches incorporating dynamic productivity and reference points, vs. stocks for which dynamic approaches offer no benefit compared to existing equilibrium approaches. 8. To make recommendations on future stock assessment approaches, data requirements, harvest control rules and management approaches incorporating environmental indicators, dynamic productivity and dynamic reference points for Australian fish stocks. Read moreRead less
Melanotransferrin: A “Missing Link” And A Novel Pharmacological Target For Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,848.00
Summary
Despite >30 years of research, the precise function of the protein, melanotransferrin (MTf), is unknown. However, we have breakthrough evidence that MTf stimulates WNT signalling as a major driver in cancer progression. We will investigate this hypothesis, which will underpin new cancer therapies. Indeed, we designed a new class of drugs that target the WNT pathway via up-regulating the WNT inhibitor, NDRG1. This drug (DpC) inhibits MTf expression to block tumour cell growth and metastasis.
Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia And Thrombosis: Better Understanding Of Pathogenesis And Improving Diagnosis And Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,137.00
Summary
Heparin, a widely used drug, can cause an adverse effect which results in a fall of the platelet count and the development of serious thrombosis. This drug complication is mediated by an immune mechanism. This proposal aims to provide a better understanding of the disease mechanism. It also aims to develop a new test that will improve the diagnosis, and to produce a novel drug that will effectively suppress the immune reaction and improve the treatment.
Griseofulvin, A Novel Host-directed Antimalarial Drug
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,551.00
Summary
This grant is for a Phase II clinical trial to test an FDA & TGA approved drug for a new use as an antimalarial drug. The parasite uses an enzyme from the human RBC to help it replicate & early trials show this drug appears to disrupt the life cycle of the parasite. This Phase II clinical trial will test the drug on human subjects, & if successful, the drug will be a new and novel way in which to treat and prevent malarial infections in humans.
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
Targeting An Ion Pump In The Malaria Parasite With Multiple Compound Classes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,686.00
Summary
Large-scale antimalarial drug screening projects have identified three different classes of compound that kill the malaria parasite at extremely low doses and which hold real promise as next-generation antimalarials. Genetic evidence, as well as preliminary data from our own lab, has led us to the hypothesis that all three compound classes exert their antimalarial effect by blocking a molecular ion pump on the parasite surface. The aim of this study is to test this.
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI100100130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,834.00
Summary
Developing predictive tools for rapid assessment of multiple impacts, including climate change, on the marine ecosystem of Torres Strait (Australia). This project will underpin Australia's long-term commitment to maintain environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of synergistic effects from multiple threats. We will describe the consequences of threats and stressors on marine processes, harvested resources, and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. ....Developing predictive tools for rapid assessment of multiple impacts, including climate change, on the marine ecosystem of Torres Strait (Australia). This project will underpin Australia's long-term commitment to maintain environmental biodiversity and sustainability in the face of synergistic effects from multiple threats. We will describe the consequences of threats and stressors on marine processes, harvested resources, and ecosystem functioning by identifying vulnerable species and habitats. We will provide management advice on balancing cultural and ecosystem integrity, economic efficiency, and ecosystem resilience under scenarios of climate and environmental change. This information is of immediate use by Australian government agencies. The project will put Australian scientists at the forefront of research focused on the adaptation of marine ecosystems to synergistic effects.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237912
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Acoustic tracking key marine species in Tasmania using new technology. We will use new passive listening receivers and uniquely indentifiable acoustic tags to track key marine species (squid, octopus, fish and crustaceans) in Tasmania. This technology allows us to remotely track species with a level of detail previously not available. By using a large number of receivers we will build listening 'curtains'. A series of curtains will then form a multi-species listening grid. This equipment wi ....Acoustic tracking key marine species in Tasmania using new technology. We will use new passive listening receivers and uniquely indentifiable acoustic tags to track key marine species (squid, octopus, fish and crustaceans) in Tasmania. This technology allows us to remotely track species with a level of detail previously not available. By using a large number of receivers we will build listening 'curtains'. A series of curtains will then form a multi-species listening grid. This equipment will allow us to reconstruct movement between habitats, and migration routes to better understand and manage this marine ecosystem. An important feature will involve monitoring organism movements into and out of marine protected areas.Read moreRead less
Apoptosis And Stem Cells In Cancer Development And Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$22,852,198.00
Summary
To improve cancer therapy, we are studying two cancer hallmarks: enhanced cell survival and stem cell-like behaviour. As we discovered, cell death is often blocked in cancer cells. Hence, we are attempting to develop drugs that flip the natural ‘cell death switch’. Stem cells are rare cells that generate entire tissues, as we showed for the breast. Certain cancers may be driven by ‘rogue’ stem cells. If so, eradication of these rare cells within the bulk tumour may require novel therapies.