Developmental Potential Of Murine Keratinocyte Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$212,036.00
Summary
The stem cells of the epidermis or outer lining of the skin are an important group of cells with a role in normal cell replenishment, in wound healing and in skin disorders such as psoriasis and cancer. These primitive cells remain in the skin during the lifetime of an individual and are responsible for the production of mature, functional cells that form a protective barrier against the environment and pathogens. We have recently developed a strategy for the isolation of stem cells of the skin ....The stem cells of the epidermis or outer lining of the skin are an important group of cells with a role in normal cell replenishment, in wound healing and in skin disorders such as psoriasis and cancer. These primitive cells remain in the skin during the lifetime of an individual and are responsible for the production of mature, functional cells that form a protective barrier against the environment and pathogens. We have recently developed a strategy for the isolation of stem cells of the skin which places us in a unique position to further study these cells and determine possible therapeutic approaches for the future. The aims of this project encompass testing the potency of skin stem cells (i) to reform complex structures such as a mature epidermis, hair follicles and sebaceous glands; and (ii) to give rise to cells from other tissues such as muscle and liver. A final aim of this project is to dissect the complexity of the stem cell compartment further to gain insights into how normal skin growth is regulated.Read moreRead less
Haematopoietic Stem Cells From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: The Future Of Bone Marrow Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
Blood stem cell transplantation is a vital therapy for patients with leukaemia following chemotherapy or for patients with bone marrow failure. Because many patients lack a donor, there is a need for an alternate source of stem cells. My laboratory will make blood stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells that will treat patients needing a transplant and will be a useful research tool to help us to understand what goes wrong in the blood system in a range of illnesses.
Adult and embryonic stem cells have enormous therapeutic potential. Haemopoietic stem cells have been the most intensely studied and widely used in a therapeutic setting, yet we have only a patchy knowledge of the genes required for their proliferation and survival. I will use classical genetic screens in the mouse to identify genes that regulate stem cell behaviour. I will analyse two existing mutant mouse strains with reduced numbers of haemopoietic stem cells, and execute a novel genetic scre ....Adult and embryonic stem cells have enormous therapeutic potential. Haemopoietic stem cells have been the most intensely studied and widely used in a therapeutic setting, yet we have only a patchy knowledge of the genes required for their proliferation and survival. I will use classical genetic screens in the mouse to identify genes that regulate stem cell behaviour. I will analyse two existing mutant mouse strains with reduced numbers of haemopoietic stem cells, and execute a novel genetic screen utilising mice with a defect in the self-renewal of adult haemopoietic and neural stem cells, to find mice with a recovered stem cell compartment.Read moreRead less
Using Direct Reprogramming To Generate And Rejuvenate Haematopoietic Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,026,313.00
Summary
One of the greatest promises of regenerative medicine lies in our ability to reprogram any cell type of the body into any other cell type. Transdifferentiation is the conversion of one adult cell type to another and it is believed to be the next frontier in regenerative medicine therapies since it can be used in vivo for the direct conversion of one cell type into another. The outcomes of this grant will push the limits of these technologies to generate new regenerative medicine strategies.
Generating Haematopoietic Stem Cells From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$872,215.00
Summary
Blood stem cell transplantation is a vital therapy for patients with leukaemia following chemotherapy or for patients with bone marrow failure. Because many patients lack a donor, there is a need for an alternate source of stem cells. Using a new approach that we have developed, our laboratories will make blood stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells that will treat patients needing a transplant.
Characterization Of HOXA-expressing Human Haematopoietic Cells Generated From Embryonic Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,464.00
Summary
Blood stem cell transplants are used for treating a range of human blood disorders such as leukaemias. However, for many patients, suitable donors cannot be found. We are searching for ways in which embryonic stem cells can be turned into blood stem cells in the laboratory to provide a new source of these cells that could then be used to treat patients.
Twist-1 Inhibits MSC Osteoblast Differentiation During Osteoporosis Via Direct Regulation Of The Wnt Signalling Pathway
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,704.00
Summary
There is a predicted dramatic increase in the number of orthopaedic related problems that require surgical intervention and rehabilitation therapy in the coming decade associated with higher incidences of bone diseases as a consequence of an aging population. This proposal seeks to determine whether the transcription factor, Twist-1 plays a central role in regulating the growth and differentiation of skeletal progenitors during bone loss following the onset of osteoporosis.
Transcriptional Regulation Of Definitive Hematopoietic Development In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$800,036.00
Summary
Blood stem cell transplantation is a vital therapy for patients with leukaemia following chemotherapy or for patients with bone marrow failure. Because many patients lack a donor, there is a need for an alternate source of stem cells, such as human pluripotent stem cells. During development, blood cells are formed from the blood vessel wall, or endothelium. In this project, we will study the regulation of this process in order to more efficiently make human blood cells in the laboratory.