Formulating New Goals For Global Health And Proposing New Governance For Global Health That Will Allow The Achievement Of These Goals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,017.00
Summary
The Millennium Development Goals have guided global development since 2000, and are due for evaluation in 2015. Attention is now turning to New Health-Related Goals, with a governance structure to support their implementation. Australian researchers are joining a Go4Health consortium of 13 research institutions to research the development of these goals, examining the input of United Nations agencies and key donors into the process, together with communities, civil society and governments.
Regulation Of Cardiometabolic Disease By A Novel ATP Binding Cholesterol Transporter, ABCA8: A New Therapeutic Target?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,585.00
Summary
Approximately 1.7 million Australians and 12% of the population in Singapore has type 2 diabetes (T2D). We have identified a cholesterol transporter, ABCA8, the absence of which produces symptoms similar to those seen in humans with T2D. The aim of this project is to understand the molecular basis of the diabetes symptoms in mice that do not have ABCA8 with a view to identifying this transporter as a drug target to reduce T2D and its complications, including heart attacks.
Disturbances Of DNA Regulation In Obesity, And Their Relationships To Metabolic Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,074.00
Summary
We have shown there exists significant differences in methylation patterns between Obese patients and healthy controls. In this study we will refine our understanding of the relationship between methylation and obesity. Our study will provide insight into how methylation changes observed in obesity influence downstream metabolic disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Uncovering The Function Of Susceptibility Variants In Alzheimer's Disease: From GWAS To Cell-Type Specific EQTLs And MQTLs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$647,804.00
Summary
This project will investigate some of the genetic and epigenetic changes that occur inside certain brain cells that make them selectively vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease, in order to better understand the mechsnisms that give origin to the disease and identify possible targets for precision therapies.
Targeting G-quadruplex DNA As A Novel Therapeutic Strategy For Alzheimer’s And Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,144.00
Summary
Dementia is the third leading cause of death in Australia and there is an urgent need to identify new ways of treating diseases that cause dementia. Our research is focused on targeting an unusual DNA structure in Alzheimer’s and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We will use a precision-targeted technology to better control formation of this DNA structure in disease-causing genes, allowing us to switch off the gene and hence stop disease progression for Alzheimer’s and FTD.
Breast CAncer STratification: Understanding The Determinants Of Risk And Prognosis Of Molecular Subtypes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,984.00
Summary
Breast cancer is not one disease, but many different types with different causes, treatments and outcomes. The aim of this project is to use genetic, lifestyle/environmental, mammographic breast density, pathologic and clinical data froma very large number of studies from all over the world to develop ways of predicting which women are at risk of particuar types of breast cancer, and if breast cancer develops what the likely outcome will be.
LIFEPATH: Life-course Biological Pathways Underlying Social Differences In Healthy Ageing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,466.00
Summary
Healthy ageing varies across society due to environmental, behavioural and social circumstances that affect peoples’ lives. To improve our ability to change this we will investigate suspected biological mechanisms over the life course. Using repeated blood samples collected during a large prospective study, we will measure a very large number of biological markers and analyse these combined with lifestyle and behavioural information to identify the modifiable predictors of healthy ageing.
Early Nutrition, Epigenetics And Developmental Outcomes In Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$550,093.00
Summary
Increasing evidence demonstrates that early nutrition, including in pregnancy, has long lasting programming effects on later health of children. Evidence implicates epigenetics (literally ‘above DNA’) in mediating these effects. The most convincing data exists for obesity and related disorders such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. The focus of this project is on understanding how ‘epigenetic’ mechanisms are influencing the way our genes function to cause these disorders.
Hendra virus (HeV) cause a disease transmitted from bats to horses which in turn infect humans and other horses. There are no drugs or vaccines for HeV. Since humans are infected by inhalation, a vaccine that can generate antibody in the lung and protect from infection will be ideal. We have found that a natural sugar called mannan used with virus proteins and administered via the nostrils to generate such responses. In this project we will prepare this vaccine and use it in a mouse model of HeV ....Hendra virus (HeV) cause a disease transmitted from bats to horses which in turn infect humans and other horses. There are no drugs or vaccines for HeV. Since humans are infected by inhalation, a vaccine that can generate antibody in the lung and protect from infection will be ideal. We have found that a natural sugar called mannan used with virus proteins and administered via the nostrils to generate such responses. In this project we will prepare this vaccine and use it in a mouse model of HeV infection to see if it can protect the mice.Read moreRead less
Developing A National Salt Reduction Program For India
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$935,028.00
Summary
Excess dietary salt is a leading cause of premature strokes and heart attacks around the world. India, the world’s second most populous nation has no coordinated national salt reduction program and lacks key data upon which to formulate a strategy. This research will bring together Australian experts in the field with leading Indian researchers to make the baseline assessments required to formulate and commence population-wide salt reduction efforts in India.