Mechanisms And Therapies In Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,360,700.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims 1 person every 10 min in Australia and causes 1 in 3 deaths worldwide. The molecular and cellular processes underlying atherosclerosis, vascular injury and thrombosis are highly complex and not well understood. A multifaceted approach is needed to effectively address these key challenges. This Program brings together world experts in these areas to interrogate gaps in our basic understanding of CVD, and to develop novel therapies for CVD patients by exploiting ....Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims 1 person every 10 min in Australia and causes 1 in 3 deaths worldwide. The molecular and cellular processes underlying atherosclerosis, vascular injury and thrombosis are highly complex and not well understood. A multifaceted approach is needed to effectively address these key challenges. This Program brings together world experts in these areas to interrogate gaps in our basic understanding of CVD, and to develop novel therapies for CVD patients by exploiting new knowledge through integrated research.Read moreRead less
We have discovered a single tumour factor which causes cancer cachexia, a wasting condition that is one of the worst complications of malignancy, for which there is no current effective treatment. We have developed antibodies which effectively block this condition in preclinical models and have produced human/humanised version of this. This application is to characterise these human antibodies to allow us proceed to clinical trials.
Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people w ....Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people with prothrombotic pathologies.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of Receptors That Control Platelet Function Under Shear Stress
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,273.00
Summary
Specialized human blood cells that control blood loss and clotting (platelets) are currently difficult to test in the clinical laboratory, meaning patients are at risk of excessive bleeding or serious clot formation during disease or treatment. The aim of this proposal is to use our new reagents and assays to develop more reliable methods for evaluating relative bleeding or clotting risk in individuals.
Autoimmune-based thrombocytopenia can be a life-threatening adverse event associated with viral load, surgery, drug therapies or the use of the anticoagulant, heparin. This grant will define mechanisms of anti-platelet antibody-dependent platelet activation and assess shedding of platelet-specific glycoprotein (GP)VI as an immediate consequence of this activation, provide a new strategy for evaluating risk of thrombosis in HIT.
The Role Of Duffy And PF4 In The Platelet Killing Of Malaria Parasites.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,045.00
Summary
Platelets in the blood can kill the Plasmodium parasite, which lives inside red blood cells and causes malaria. Platelets bind parasite-infected red cells and release a molecule that is toxic to the parasite. This project will study why a red cell molecule called Duffy is also needed for this function of platelets. Most Africans carry a gene for Duffy that stops its expression in red cells, and may therefore be more susceptible to malaria because their platelets cannot kill the malaria parasite.
Estimating And Alleviating The Impacts Of Age-Related Sensory Decline
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$323,767.00
Summary
Sensory loss and dementia disproportionately affect older adults, often co-occur, and are the two leading contributors to disability burden among older Australians. This research will investigate the consequences that hearing and vision loss have for older adult health and wellbeing, informing strategies to reduce the disability burden of age-related sensory loss. These impacts include cognitive decline and dementia, mental health, quality of life, disability and independent living.
Structural And Functional Analysis Of A Cancer-linked Co-regulator Complex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,571.00
Summary
We seek to understand the mechanisms by which genes are switched on and off throughout our lifetime. A number of multi-component protein machines are involved in this process but their make-up and mechanism of action is not understood. We will investigate the structure and function of one of these machines that has been strongly linked to cancer.
Cholestasis And Hepatocyte Injury In Chronic Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$615,967.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to understand the consequences of long-term cholestasis or impaired bile excretion/flow on normal liver cells (hepatocytes) and to test whether specific bile acids can cause irreversible damage to hepatocytes leading to their transformation into pre-malignant cells and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). The results from this project will inform new strategies in screening, prevention and treatment of liver cancer in children and adults with cholestasis.
Novel Functional Testing For Early Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,578.00
Summary
About 7.5% of Australians have diabetes and 62% of them will have signs of damage to their eyes within 6 years of diagnosis. Diabetes is 2 to 3 times more common amongst Aboriginal Australians. A group of researchers at the Australian National University are collaborating to bring a new test for the severity of diabetic eye disease to the market within 3 years. The objective is to provide doctors with a rapid, cost-effective tool to help them recognize sight-threatening damage and to assist in t ....About 7.5% of Australians have diabetes and 62% of them will have signs of damage to their eyes within 6 years of diagnosis. Diabetes is 2 to 3 times more common amongst Aboriginal Australians. A group of researchers at the Australian National University are collaborating to bring a new test for the severity of diabetic eye disease to the market within 3 years. The objective is to provide doctors with a rapid, cost-effective tool to help them recognize sight-threatening damage and to assist in treatment.Read moreRead less