Understanding The Role Of Caspase-2 In Cellular Stress Response And Ageing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$918,517.00
Summary
This project builds upon our recent findings showing that a protein, called caspase-2, is involved in protecting against oxidative damage and ageing in a mouse model. We propose to carry out further studies to fully understand how caspase-2 regulates cell’s response to oxidative stress. Such studies will be critical in assessing if caspase-2 or its substrates are useful targets for drugs to treat diseases that may arise due to cell’s inability to properly respond to oxidative damage.
Axonal Fusion To Promote Nerve Repair: Molecules And Mechanisms.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,189.00
Summary
Nerve injuries are in most cases untreatable, leaving patients with high level of disabilities for the rest of their life. Understanding the molecular mechanism regulating nerve regeneration is critical to develop new drugs and design innovative therapies. We discovered molecules that mediates axonal repair by favouring the stitching together of the two separated fragments of an axon. We aim to study how they functions to possibly exploit a similar mechanism of repair for human injuries.
Viruses are considered neither live nor dead, and it is understood that biological process within a virus must occur after it infects a cell. Our work reveals a previous unknown step in HIV known as pre-entry priming. These discoveries challenge our current dogma of how viruses function, and imply this pre-entry priming process is a built in mechanism for HIV to protect itself. This proposal will redefine our understanding of HIV and explore novel HIV vaccine design through these discoveries.
Mechanistic And Functional Characterization Of The Atypical Kinase SgK269
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,879.00
Summary
The overall aim of this study is to characterize at a mechanistic and functional level the oncogenic role of SgK269. We will use quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics to characterize the signaling network role of SgK269 and subsequently undertake a detailed structure/function analysis of SgK269 in mammary epithelial cells. Our study will provide novel insights into the signaling mechanism and function of SgK269 and highlight the potential strategies for improved treatment of basal breast ....The overall aim of this study is to characterize at a mechanistic and functional level the oncogenic role of SgK269. We will use quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics to characterize the signaling network role of SgK269 and subsequently undertake a detailed structure/function analysis of SgK269 in mammary epithelial cells. Our study will provide novel insights into the signaling mechanism and function of SgK269 and highlight the potential strategies for improved treatment of basal breast cancers.Read moreRead less
Allergies And Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Causes, Biological Pathways And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,872.00
Summary
Allergies and chronic respiratory diseases are major causes of illness and death in Australia. Worryingly there are still many gaps in knowledge on how best to prevent and manage these diseases. The proposed program will investigate these questions and provide evidence to guide health policy and clinical management. As this program is built on state-of the-art methods and technology, these original Australian findings will be of great importance internationally.
This Fellowship will focus on the development of novel therapeutics for cancer, and identify mechanisms for selection of treatments best suited to individual patients. It will also develop innovative strategies to identify cancer through molecular imaging techniques.
Signalosomes And Compartmentalisation In Cellular Homeostasis And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,646.00
Summary
G protein-coupled receptors are specialised proteins on the surface of cells. They are the targets of 30% of currently available pharmaceuticals. This proposal will examine exciting and novel properties of these proteins that only occur following their assembly into specialised networks in cells. The use of cutting-edge technology will allow us to understand the role of these networks in many diseases. The new information will expand our current knowledge, and facilitate targeted drug design.
Understanding The Role Of TDP-43 In Motor Neuron Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$654,091.00
Summary
Motor neuron disease (MND) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with no cure. The cause of MND is poorly understood but new research has shown that defects in TDP-43, an RNA binding protein involved in gene regulation, can lead to the disease. This project is aimed at discovering the molecular mechanisms of TDP-43 function, which will improve the understanding of the disease and aid in the development of new therapies.
Central to improving the management of patients with cancer is an understanding of the molecular drivers of cancer. Based on our fundamental discoveries about the role of cell growth and perturbed cell signalling as drivers of cancer we will use the integration of molecular and imaging biomarkers with targeted therapies to translate this knowledge into better outcomes for cancer patients with defined molecular drivers of their cancer.