IRON IN DISEASES OF THE AGEING BRAIN: From Bench To Clinic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,814,215.00
Summary
I aim to achieve a deeper understanding of the causes, detection and treatment of incurable neurological diseases of advancing age - Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Motor Neuron Disease. Iron needlessly accumulates in brain tissue with age. I will pursue studies of ageing worms, cells in culture, mice, human brain tissue, brain imaging and clinical trials, to determine whether the problem of iron accumulation is a drug target for these diseases.
Targeting Iron Piracy From Host Proteins By Neisseria And Haemophilus Spp. For The Development Of Novel Antimicrobials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
The bacteria that cause the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea and meningococcal disease are a serious health concern. In order to cause disease, these bacteria must obtain the nutrient iron from our bodies. This proposed research will use cutting edge technologies to understand on a molecular level how these bacteria obtain iron during infection. It will then apply this knowledge to develop molecules that prevent these bacteria from obtaining iron, as a means of treating these diseases.
Elucidating Metabolic Dysregulation In Alzheimer’s Disease: Profiling The Peripheral Immune Cell Lipidome To Unravel Pathological Mechanisms.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Both the immune system and lipid metabolism have been identified to be important in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). With the failures of all clinical trials attempting to treat AD, we seek to determine a way to both better diagnose individuals with AD and to identify people at increased risk. This project uses a novel profiling technique to characterise the lipid composition of immune cells to diagnose, predict risk, monitor the disease and to identify potential disease modifying therapeutic targets.
Development Of Novel Therapies To Treat Obesity Related Metabolic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,981,372.00
Summary
Obesity results in the development of many diseases particularly as we age. These diseases include type 2 diabetes, fatty liver diasease and dementia. This research rpogram with develop new strategies and therapies targeted to treat these obesity related diseases.
Integration Of Novel Biological Targets/biomarkers In The Treatment Of Lethal Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,930,260.00
Summary
Prostate cancer (PC) remains a major cause of cancer-related death. Precision medicine is predicated on the principle of the right drug for the right patient at the right time. This program aims to assess/validate the ability of blood-based molecular markers to predict an individual patient’s response to different treatments and develop new drug strategies based on biological endpoints. Overall, this project has the potential to improve survival and quality of life in men with lethal PC.