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ABCA1 _ An Intersection Between Infection, Atherosclerosis And Metabolic Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,827.00
Summary
Pathogens interfere with cellular cholesterol metabolism in order to support their lifecycle. Such interference may cause diseases not usually associated with infection, like cardiovascular disease. Restoring normal cholesterol metabolism may help treating infection and its metabolic consequences. We will investigate molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms of interaction of pathogens with cholesterol metabolism to find a key point that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
Sphingosine Kinase: A Target For Obesity-induced Insulin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,845.00
Summary
Insulin resistance, a characteristic of type 2 diabetes, is linked to abnormal metabolism of lipid (fat) in tissues such as liver and muscle. This project aims to identify a novel pathway which may promote a build up of lipids in liver and therefore leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. This work may provide a basis for understanding and optimizing treatment of insulin resistance by regulating the control of fat metabolism in liver.
Lipid Metabolism In The Hypothalamus: Implications For Obesity And Diabetes Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,915.00
Summary
Obesity is defined by excessive fat storage and defective lipid metabolism, not only in adipose tissue, but also in most tissues throughout the body. Obesity-induced changes in lipid metabolism extends to the brain and is associated with impaired cognitive function. This work aims to determine how obesity affects neurons in the key feeding centres of the brain, and whether excessive lipid storage in neurons induces changes in body weight regulation and metabolism.
The Role Of Adipose Tissue Cholesterol In Metabolic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$888,340.00
Summary
Adipose tissue is important for human health. Adipose tissue can normally store a significant amount of cholesterol. Impairment of this function will cause a number of devastating diseases such as heart disease and stroke. The proposed work will help understand how adipose tissue store cholesterol. Results from this work may lead to novel therapeutic strategies against obesity and heart disease.
Glutathione Transferase Zeta: A Novel Regulator Of Glucose And Lipid Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$604,143.00
Summary
Obesity is a problem of global significance as a cause of preventable illness and death. The many consequences of obesity including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and osteoarthritis are an increasing burden on affected subjects and on the health care system. Our recent studies have revealed a novel pathway for the regulation of obesity. This discovery has provided a new target for the development of drugs for obesity and related disorders.
The CDP Ethanolamine Pathway: A New Player In Obesity Induced Insulin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$652,372.00
Summary
Insulin resistance, a characteristic of type 2 diabetes, is linked to abnormal metabolism of lipid (fat) in tissues such as liver and muscle. This project aims to identify a novel pathway which may promote a build up of lipids in muscle and therefore leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. This work may provide a basis for understanding and optimizing treatment of insulin resistance by regulating the control of fat metabolism in muscle.
Understanding The Role Of Sugar Metabolism In Liver Tumour Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,979.00
Summary
Primary liver cancer is a deadly disease with limited chemotherapeutic options. The investigators of this proposal have recently determined that sugar intake (but not fat or complex carbohydrate) is a dominant driver of liver tumour growth in mice. The current proposal will investigate the specific contributions of glucose versus fructose in tumour burden, and determine whether blocking the conversion of sugars to fat in the liver represents a therapeutic strategy to block tumour growth in mice.
Curing Fatty Muscles: Understanding The Role Of PLIN5 In Lipid Metabolism And Tissue Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,162.00
Summary
Diseases associated with the deposition of lipids in muscle are becoming an increasingly important medical problem as the incidence of obesity increases. Skeletal muscle and cardiac function are greatly altered by excessive lipid deposition. The protein PLIN5 is important in regulating fat metabolism. This project aims to determine the functions of PLIN5, how PLIN5 is regulated and whether altering PLIN5 contributes to the development of diabetes and heart failure.
Does Periodic Fasting Improve Insulin Sensitivity And Metabolic Health In Humans?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$846,891.00
Summary
A large body of evidence for the health benefits and life-extending properties of dietary restriction exists. Recent findings suggest that periods of fasting can have beneficial effects, even without an overall reduction in caloric intake. This proposal will compare periodic fasting with and without weight loss, versus daily caloric restriction on metabolic health outcomes in humans and examine mechanisms that may contribute to this effects.
The Role Of Oxyterol-binding Protein-related Protein 5 (ORP5) In Cellular Lipid Storage And Whole Body Energy Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$758,472.00
Summary
Fat is stored in the form of lipid droplets in our cells and body. However, our knowledge on how lipid droplets grow and are broken down is very limited. We aim to investigate how lipids are delivered to the lipid droplets and how lipid droplets can store lipids efficiently. Results from the proposed work will provide fundamental new knowledge on how our cells store and utilize fat. Such knowledge may be translated into therapeutic strategies one day against obesity and diabetes.