Argonaute Proteins In The Mammalian Antiviral Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Viruses are the most abundant infectious agents on earth, and the diseases caused by them are a constant threat and cause of mortality worldwide. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2006, RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural process that plants use to attack viruses. Humans possess all of the tools for RNAi, but whether it is used for antiviral defense is unknown. This study aims to uncover this immune process which will open new avenues to treat virus infections, such as influenza and HIV.
Targeting KRAS Mutations In Cancer Using A Novel SiRNA Delivery Technology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$498,899.00
Summary
Mutations in a gene called KRAS are found in 20% of human cancers but are impossible to target with existing treatments. RNA interference is a promising new way to target genes previously considered undruggable, but there is no way to deliver the molecules required for RNA interference to tumours. We will evaluate the ability of a new nanotechnology based delivery system (antibody targeted minicells) to deliver RNA interference, thereby selectively targeting of KRAS in tumours while avoiding tox ....Mutations in a gene called KRAS are found in 20% of human cancers but are impossible to target with existing treatments. RNA interference is a promising new way to target genes previously considered undruggable, but there is no way to deliver the molecules required for RNA interference to tumours. We will evaluate the ability of a new nanotechnology based delivery system (antibody targeted minicells) to deliver RNA interference, thereby selectively targeting of KRAS in tumours while avoiding toxicity to normal tissue.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Neuronal Hyper-excitability In An Animal Model Of Motor Neuron Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,170.00
Summary
Every day at least one person in Australia dies of the fatal and untreatable adult neurodegenerative disease of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neuron disease). This research examines the factors driving early increases in neural activity which may lead to the loss of upper and lower motor neurons in adulthood. The use of new methods to suppress production of specific proteins causing increased neural activity may lead to novel treatments for this disease.
Investigating The Role Of Novel Heterochromatin And Centromere Proteins In Chromosome Segregation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,896.00
Summary
The equal division of genetic material during cell division is essential so that genetic material is not lost or gained. This process is controlled by a complex array of proteins that replicate the genome, maintain its structural integrity, and equally distribute one copy to each daughter cell. This research aims to study the functions of newly identified proteins required for this process in a single cell yeast model-system and in human and mouse cells.
RNA interference is a newly discovered means by which we are able to turn off cancer-causing genes with high precision. However, it is difficult to get the drug to every cancer cell. Therefore we are designing and testing new RNA interference molecules that are able to alert the immune system to the presence of the cancer thus causing its elimination. This will prove to be a more effective cancer treatment than current therapies.
An Alternate Function Of The MicroRNA Biogenesis Machinery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,981.00
Summary
Controlling the activity of genes is crucial. Too much or too little can result in a cell not functioning properly. We have discovered a new way genes are controlled. We have found that an enzyme called Drosha can prevent too much activation of some genes by chopping up the products of these genes. This way of controlling genes appears to be especially important for developmental processes, such as occurs in the embryo. Our goal is to understand this mechanism precisely at the molecular level.
Identification Of Novel ERBB2 Co-operating Tumor Suppressors Using In Vivo RNAi Screens.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Invasive breast cancer is often lethal, however, noninvasive disease has a >98% survival rate. Thus, understanding how breast cancer develops invasive ability is an important research goal. Using a new method in mice predisposed to breast cancer, we will find genes that prevent tumor invasion and determine if they are important in human cancer. By understanding how these genes restrict tumor invasion, we hope to develop therapies to improve breast cancer treatment.
Treatment Of Virally-induced Cancers By RNA Interference.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,250.00
Summary
Cancers require certain mutations and the over expression of genes to cause disease. Each cancer has a unique set of gene changes thus making it difficult to treat. However, it has become clear that the normal control mechanisms of many cancers are still intact but are repressed by the over expression of these oncogenes (or cancer genes). By turning off these oncogenes we can restore normal control to the cell and the cancer will die normally. We will use a new method of gene targeting called RN ....Cancers require certain mutations and the over expression of genes to cause disease. Each cancer has a unique set of gene changes thus making it difficult to treat. However, it has become clear that the normal control mechanisms of many cancers are still intact but are repressed by the over expression of these oncogenes (or cancer genes). By turning off these oncogenes we can restore normal control to the cell and the cancer will die normally. We will use a new method of gene targeting called RNA interference to turn off oncogenes. RNA interference involves treatment of cells with a small peice of genetic material that provides the cell with an identity pattern of the gene to be eliminated. The cell takes the pattern and turms off the genes expression. As long as the pattern only turns off the cancer gene all other genes will remain normal. We will test this using cervical cancer as a model as all these cancers are caused by infection with a virus that carries 2 oncogenes. It is these virus oncogenes that cause the cancer and therefore we know the exact target genes that need to be turned off. Most importantly these genes are not present in normal cells making it safe to target them by RNA interference. We have gathered an expert group of investigators with experience in cervical cancer and cancer genetics to address this problem. If successful we will have proven this new technique can work against cervical cancer and this method could then be applied to any cancer. We would then be able to start human trials. Cervical cancer kills over 300 women in Australia each year, is the leading cause of cancer death in Aboriginal women, is 2nd most common cancer of women in the world and is the leading cancer killer worldwide in women under 50.Read moreRead less