Nanomedicines Immunotargeting: Hitting The Target Or Lost In Translation ?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,042.00
Summary
Nanomedicines are some of the most exciting novel approaches to improving the way we detect, manage and treat cancers. This cross-disciplinary project aims to provide a rigorous understanding of how nanomedicines penetrate solid tumour tissues. To validate in vitro tumour model developed in the project, in vivo studies will be carried out in a mice model. The penetration and distribution of nanomedicines inside tumour tissues after intravenous administration will be determined.
Characterisation Of A New Poor-Risk Sub-Category Of Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$609,320.00
Summary
The introduction of targeted therapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) has resulted in excellent responses for many patients. However, some 30-40% of patients respond very poorly to this therapy and therapeutic advances are urgently needed to improve response in these patients. In order to better treat these poor risk patients we aim, in this project, to develop a greater understanding of their disease, and from this identify specific cellular targets for future drug treatment/combination ther ....The introduction of targeted therapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) has resulted in excellent responses for many patients. However, some 30-40% of patients respond very poorly to this therapy and therapeutic advances are urgently needed to improve response in these patients. In order to better treat these poor risk patients we aim, in this project, to develop a greater understanding of their disease, and from this identify specific cellular targets for future drug treatment/combination therapy.Read moreRead less
Pharmacological Targeting Of Integrated Oncogenic And Tumour Suppressive Pathways Using Novel Therapeutics.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,953.00
Summary
We will investigate NDRG1, a novel molecular target that has been demonstrated to inhibit the progression of numerous cancers. We aim to better understand the underlying function of NDRG1 in pancreatic cancer and how we can potentially target this gene with novel therapeutics being developed in our lab. We hope that this new approach will lead to promising treatments and a better outcome for those suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Phosphonated Calixarenes For The Targeted Intracellular Delivery Of Anticancer Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,267.00
Summary
Many anticancer drugs have severe side effects due to their potency and non-specificity of action. To improve the treatment outcome for thousands of cancer patients, we aim to engineer calixarene-based nanocarriers that bypass normal tissues to selectively deposit drugs and imaging agents into tumour cells. Such delivery systems will optimize the performance of a host of anticancer agents that act within cells, and enable drug treatment and monitoring to be simultaneously realised.
Integrating Drug Delivery Principles Into Drug Design To Transform The Treatment Of Immune Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,635.00
Summary
Immune system disorders (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, transplant rejection, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis) are often treated with immunosuppresant drugs. However, immunosuppressant drugs can cause significant toxicity and can lack efficacy. This proposal will show how the design of drugs used to treat immune disorders can be changed to allow drugs to be delivered specifically to their site of action (immune cells) thereby enhancing activity and reducing toxicity.
Schistosomiasis is one of the world's most serious and prevalent diseases affecting nearly 200 million people world-wide. It is currently treated with a single drug, though there is growing concern about the development of resistance to it. In this proposal we will explore whether a new cellular pathway involving the cell death machinery we have identified in the disease-causing parasites could provide a possible target for the development of new treatments against schistosomiasis.
Specific Targeting Of Nanosystems By Cutaneous Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$985,026.00
Summary
Substances have long been applied to the skin for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes, but the range of suitable compounds is limited. Consequently, there is a need for a wider range of compounds which can be delivered effectively into the skin for targeted treatment, diagnostic imaging and vaccination. New nanomaterial drug delivery systems are being increasingly used for these purposes. We seek to understand the properties of nanosystems that will enable improved drug targeting via the skin.
Targeting IAPs In Leukaemias Using The Smac-mimetic Drug Birinapant
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$969,304.00
Summary
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer. Overall, less than 50% of AML patients are cured. This project evaluates a new drug, Birinapant, in the treatment of AML. Our research will define the AMLs that best respond to Birinapant, and discover combined therapies that will overcome drug resistance. Thus, this project will lead the way towards a clinical trial of Birinapant in AML, focusing on patients who benefit the most and treatments that increase numbers of who may respond.
Regulation Of ERK Driven Cell Proliferation By The Actin Cytoskeleton
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$920,972.00
Summary
The cells in your body respond to external signals and control their proliferation by transmitting signals from one part of the cell to another. This has usually been thought to involve the movement of signals through a liquid medium without the involvement of any machinery to control the movement. The project aims to test the role of the architecture of the cells in physically moving a growth signal from one place to another. We think that the architecture involved plays a key role in cancer.
Real-time Optical Window Imaging Of AKT-FRET Biosensor Mice To Maximise PI3K/AKT Drug Targeting Within The Hypoxic Microenvironment Of Pancreatic Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,447.00
Summary
Inefficient drug response in solid tumour tissue is often a limiting factor in the clinical effectiveness of cancer therapies. Using cutting-edge imaging technology and 3D models that mimic the disease, we have mapped areas of poor drug response within distinct regions of tumours with low oxygen levels known as hypoxia. Here, we will specifically target factors limiting efficient drug targeting in these areas to improve the encouraging anti-cancer profile of AKT inhibitors in pancreatic cancer.