Biomarker-driven Applications Of Immunotherapy In Lymphoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
Immunotherapy is a new treatment strategy that works in many different lymphoma types but there is no successful method of predicting response or selecting patients. I aim to explore use of immunotherapy in 3 key lymphoma subtypes to identify new techniques for predicting which patients respond to treatment through prospective biomarker research using novel techniques. These aims will be achieved through a series of clinical trials of immunotherapy in lymphoma all with a biomarker research focus
Exploring The Role Of The Bcl-2 Family In Haematopoiesis And Haematopoietic Malignancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,980.00
Summary
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma comprise the majority of blood cancers and are both disease in which the cell death pathway plays a vital role in both the development of the cancer cell and the resistance to chemotherapy. This project aims to examine the mechanisms of cancer in these tumours focussing on lymphoid cancers, and examine the role of new treatments targeting this pathway.
Antigen Receptor As Oncogene: Understanding CARD11 Mutations In B Cell Malignancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,395.00
Summary
More than 5000 Australians are newly diagnosed as lymphomas. Recent technology identified many candidate genes for lymphomas, however it still remains unclear how each mutated gene distorts signalling molecules inside tumours cells. By introducing one of recurrent mutated genes, CARD11 into mouse B cells, we will examine how this mutation affects normal signalling pathways and B cell functions. We hope this project will provide a guidance to use forthcoming drugs to target specific molecules.
Integrating Immunity And Genetics In Follicular Lymphoma To Establish A Prognostic Score Fit For The Modern Era
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,377,174.00
Summary
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is divided into early and advanced stages. Early stage FL is frequently cured, but there is no way to identify who will be cured and who won't. By contrast advanced stage FL is incurable. Our unique access to well-annotated clinical trial and population based cohorts allows us to perform a detailed biological comparison of early and advanced FL, to gain a deeper understanding of the impediments to eradicating the disease, and to predict outcome to conventional therapy.
Assessing The Utility Of Circulating Cell-free MicroRNA As Biomarkers For Response In A Variety Of Non Hodgkin Lymphomas
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,159.00
Summary
Non Hodgkin Lymphomas are the most common blood cancer to affect adult Australians. The current strategies for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of these patients are generic and not tailored to features of particular patientÍs lymphoma or treatment response. We aim to develop a new blood based marker for Lymphoma that can be used to diagnose and monitor NHL patients, to allow treatment to be adjusted according the patients current response to therapy, as indicated by the blood based marker. T
Developing Mouse Models Of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma For Therapeutic Discovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
Diffuse large B cell lymphomas are aggressive cancers of white blood cells. Gene mutations play significant yet poorly understood roles in the cause of these lymphomas and their resistance to drug treatments. I plan to develop new mouse models of lymphoma to identify factors that cause lymphoma to develop in living organisms and factors that cause them to resist drug treatment. I will also test if combinations of multiple drugs can effectively and safely treat these lymphomas.
Translating Advances In Molecular Oncology Into Improved Care For Patients With Haematological Malignancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,327.00
Summary
The purpose of my research is to develop and integrate into routine practice better treatment paradigms for patients with blood cancers – leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma. My research seeks to (i) bring a new class of anti-cancer targeted therapy, inhibitors of Bcl-2, into routine care; (ii) discover the genetic changes that explain why slow growing lymphoid cancers change into rapidly fatal lymphomas; and (iii) integrate new molecular tests into the management of patients with acute leukaemia.
Circulating Tumor DNA To Monitor Treatment Response And Resistance In Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,714.00
Summary
Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA into the patient’s bloodstream. Recent advances in genomic technologies now allow small levels of cancer DNA to be accurately measured in the peripheral blood. Changes in DNA levels have the potential to be used as specific markers of disease progression and/or response to cancer therapy. This project will evaluate if this DNA can be measured from a simple blood test to serially follow patients receiving treatment for mantle cell lymphoma.
Consequences Of MYD88 Mutations Commonly Found In Human B Cell Malignancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,583.00
Summary
MYD88 is one of the most recurrently mutated genes in B cell malignancies, such as diffuse-large B cell lymphoma and Waldenström macroglobulinemia. This project will characterise oncogenic MYD88 mutations by introducing the mutations into normal mouse B cells. It will examine how the mutations disrupt signalling pathways and B cell functions and how the mutations respond to new lymphoma drugs. We hope this project will provide information for lymphoma pathogenesis and rational drug selection.