Omega 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Analogues In The Treatment Of Diabetic Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,446.00
Summary
Treatment of diabetes has become an even greater challenge to our community today. The ill health from diabetes arises from the high blood sugar levels. Treatment of diabetic complications such as kidney damage has now become a major goal. This research addresses this problem by trying to find out if a group of novel polyunsaturated fatty acids can target the process initiated by high blood sugar responsible for kidney damage.
Lefty - A Novel Anti-fibrotic Molecule For The Treatment Of Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,920.00
Summary
Patients with progressive forms of kidney disease go on to develop end-stage renal failure which requires intensive medical support of dialysis or organ transplantation. This is an increasingly common condition in Australia, and the Western world in general. It is devastating for the individual and it places an enormous economic strain upon our healthcare system. In addition, renal failure is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Current treatments can at best slow the ....Patients with progressive forms of kidney disease go on to develop end-stage renal failure which requires intensive medical support of dialysis or organ transplantation. This is an increasingly common condition in Australia, and the Western world in general. It is devastating for the individual and it places an enormous economic strain upon our healthcare system. In addition, renal failure is a strong and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Current treatments can at best slow the rate of progression of kidney disease, but cannot prevent the relentless progression to end-stage renal failure. Thus, there is a major medical need to be able to halt, and hopefully reverse, this relentless disease. Scarring of the kidney (termed fibrosis) is the common final pathway leading to end-stage renal failure regardless of the nature of the underlying kidney disease. Our preliminary studies have shown that a naturally occurring protein called Lefty can act to inhibit renal fibrosis in cell culture and animal studies. These very promising results have lead to the hypothesis that Lefty can halt, and perhaps even reverse, scarring of the kidney in progressive kidney disease. We will test this hypothesis by using Lefty as a treatment in animal models of renal fibrosis. Further cell culture studies are also planned to examine the mechanisms by which Lefty modulates renal fibrosis. If successful, these studies will provide critical data to support the development of Lefty as a clinical treatment for patients with progressive forms of kidney disease.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Melanoma Tumour Antigen P97 (Melanotransferrin) In Melanoma Tumourigenesis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,242.00
Summary
The Role of Melanoma Tumour Antigen p97 (Melanotransferrin) in Melanoma Tumourigenesis Melanotransferrin (MTf) is a homologue of the iron transport protein, transferrin, and was one of the first well characterised melanoma tumour antigens. Our published studies have shown that MTf plays an important role in melanoma tumourigenesis in vivo. In this proposal, we will assess if it is associated with melanoma progression in patient samples and examine its role in melanoma growth and metastasis.
Analysis Of T Cell Fate Regulation By Asymmetric Cell Division
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
The aim of this research is to study how white blood cell growth is regulated by signals of the immune system. Problems in this process can have drastic effects on the well being of an individual leading to deficiencies in controlling infection and development of diseases such as cancer. Once we understand how these signals regulate white blood cell growth, we can begin to develop therapies to provide protection against these diseases.