Evolution Of Adaptive Immunity To Gluten In Coeliac Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,034.00
Summary
Coeliac disease affects 1 in 100 Australians and can cause significant health problems. Under-diagnosis and a difficult, costly treatment (lifelong gluten free diet) are serious clinical issues. The feasibility of simpler diagnostics and therapies in children and adults for coeliac disease depends on whether children and adults react in the same way to gluten. This proposal seeks to determine whether the immune response to gluten changes over time and establish the feasibility of peptide-based a ....Coeliac disease affects 1 in 100 Australians and can cause significant health problems. Under-diagnosis and a difficult, costly treatment (lifelong gluten free diet) are serious clinical issues. The feasibility of simpler diagnostics and therapies in children and adults for coeliac disease depends on whether children and adults react in the same way to gluten. This proposal seeks to determine whether the immune response to gluten changes over time and establish the feasibility of peptide-based applications.Read moreRead less
Phase I/IIa Trials Of A Novel T-cell Epitope-based Peptide Therapy For Peanut Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,440,000.00
Summary
Peanut allergy affects ~2% of the population and is the major cause of food triggered deaths from anaphylaxis. Typically peanut allergy is lifelong. Currently there is no specific treatment. Our vast experience in immunology for house dust mite and grass immunotherapy allowed us to identify critical components of peanut proteins needed as a safe vaccine to build tolerance to peanut foods. Now we will progress this novel and revolutionary vaccine through early phase clinical trials.
Analysis Of Antigen Processing In Melanoma Cells, Its Influence On The Success Of Cancer Vaccination And Enhancement In A Combined-immunotherapy Xenograft Model Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$297,891.00
Summary
Cancer vaccines, an exciting new treatment option that aims to boost a patientÍs own immune system to fight a growing cancer, have shown great promise in developmental studies. Although these vaccines generate strong anti-cancer responses in the blood of treated patients, less than expected results have been observed in terms of increased patient survival. This project aims to understand how the cancer escapes recognition by the immune system and ways to enhance the effects of cancer vaccines.
Identification Of Parkinson's Disease Genes In Queensland Families Showing Patterns Of Mendelian Inheritance.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,759.00
Summary
In rare cases, Parkinson's disease can be inherited through the generations of a family and it is possible to identify genetic changes that lead to this type of disease. This project aims to use new genetic sequencing technologies in several Australian families with inherited PD to find new genes that cause disease. This research will not only help these families but will teach us more about the reasons brain cells degenerate in this condition and other similar age-related brain diseases.
The Molecular Basis Of Human CD4+ T-cell Responses In Autoimmune Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$656,498.00
Summary
Over 120,000 Australians currently suffer from type 1 diabetes. This incurable disease typically strikes in childhood or adolescence and is caused by the immune system destroying the cells which make insulin. This project aims to determine how and why the insulin producing cells are recognized by the immune system. Eventually this work will lead to new vacccines to prevent the immune system from destroying the insulin producing cells.
Expanding The Power Of Genetic Analysis Of Complex Traits In Multiply Phenotyped Twin Sibships
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$541,556.00
Summary
Our aim is to identify genes influencing common diseases including melanoma, asthma and cardiovascular disease. We measure adolescent twins for moliness, skin, hair and eye colour and a variety of blood traits. We have already found new genes for mole count, eye colour, skin damage, and several different blood cell types. For each of these disease traits there are many more genes to be found and these will inform new treatments. We plan to genotype 600 new families (2000 individuals) to help ach ....Our aim is to identify genes influencing common diseases including melanoma, asthma and cardiovascular disease. We measure adolescent twins for moliness, skin, hair and eye colour and a variety of blood traits. We have already found new genes for mole count, eye colour, skin damage, and several different blood cell types. For each of these disease traits there are many more genes to be found and these will inform new treatments. We plan to genotype 600 new families (2000 individuals) to help achieve this.Read moreRead less
We have previously made the most widely used animal brain atlas in the world. This atlas based on stained histological sections of the rat brain. In recent years, advances in MRI have made it possible to generate images of the rat brain at very high resolution. We have obtained a very high quality MRI image set from colleagues in Duke University in the USA, and we have begun to map these images in great detail, using our histological atlas as a guide.
Genetic And Environmental Determinants Of Brain Networks In Ageing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Is brain ageing genetically or environmentally determined, or an interaction of both? We will explore the influence of genes and the environment on brain connectivity during ageing by studying how the brain network relates to cognitive functions.
Genetics Of Complex Traits In Multiply Phenotyped Twin Sibships: The Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,019,887.00
Summary
Our aim is to identify genes influencing common diseases including melanoma, asthma and cardiovascular disease. We measure adolescent twins for moliness, skin, hair and eye colour and a variety of blood traits. We have already found new genes for mole count, eye colour, skin damage, and several different blood cell types. For each of these disease traits there are many more genes to be found and these will inform new treatments. We plan to keep expanding our sample size achieve this.
Shannon Entropy Mapping - AF Ablation From First Principles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,589.00
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder in humans, and a rapidly growing epidemic in Australia. AF occurs because electrical circuits called rotors take over the top chambers of the heart. Until now, ablation procedures to target AF have not been able to specifically target rotors, which has meant operations are often long and arduous. This project uses new mathematical techniques we have developed to localise rotors driving AF, aiming to develop a faster safer and more ....Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder in humans, and a rapidly growing epidemic in Australia. AF occurs because electrical circuits called rotors take over the top chambers of the heart. Until now, ablation procedures to target AF have not been able to specifically target rotors, which has meant operations are often long and arduous. This project uses new mathematical techniques we have developed to localise rotors driving AF, aiming to develop a faster safer and more effective AF ablation.Read moreRead less