Nanoengineered Bioelectronic Systems For All-Optical Control Of Neuron Growth And Stimulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$757,452.00
Summary
Nerve cells are the primary signal carriers of the human body. When they cease to function normally, our bodies ability to function and sense the physical world is influenced catastrophically. We will develop a new bioelectronic system made by printing clever inks that can artificially stimulate nerve cells without the typical requirements for invasive metal electrodes or external power. These new scientific advances will revolutionize nerve cell repair and treatment of neurological disorders.
Spinosyns As Endectocides For Blocking Transmission Of Malaria And Other Mosquito-borne Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$758,299.00
Summary
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and kills 400,000 people annually. To prevent malaria we must stop transmission. We have discovered a natural substance that, if ingested, makes an animal's blood lethal to at least one type of mosquito. It also kills the parasite. We aim to determine if it kills other key mosquito types and how it kills the parasite. We expect this study will lead to a pill that stops transmission of malaria and other tropical diseases.
Preservation And Generation Of Beta Cells In Type 1 Diabetes With Novel Mimetic Peptides
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,096,055.00
Summary
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that destroys insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. It can cause heart and kidney disease, and nerve damage. T1D is treated with insulin injections that can cause life-threatening low blood sugar levels. We have developed a new treatment that may stop beta cell loss, generate new beta cells and remove the need for insulin injections in T1D patients. A positive outcome will identify a completely new T1D treatment option.
Developing Exon Replacement Gene Therapy To Cure Rett Syndrome: An Innovative Model For Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$475,105.00
Summary
There is no cure for neurodevelopmental disorders such as Rett syndrome which is caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. Gene therapy is ineffective due to the 'Goldilocks' effect where too little, as well as too much expression of MECP2 causes disease. Here a gene editing therapy will be tested in patient cells and mouse model that will maintain the normal cellular expression of MECP2 by cutting out the mutated regions of the gene (exons) and replacing them with repaired copies.
Silencing Pulmonary Nociceptors To Treat Severe Respiratory Viral Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,173.00
Summary
The lungs receive a rich supply of nerve fibres, many of which play an important role in helping defend against pathogens, including viruses. When viral infections become severe, too much inflammation occurs in the lungs and this creates a serious and difficult to treat clinical problem. Hundreds of thousands of people each year die from the complications of severe lung infections. We are investigating a potential new therapy that targets the lung nerves and relieves excessive inflammation.
Innate Threat Detection Circuits In The Superior Colliculus Co-ordinate Respiratory And Cardiovascular Responses To Visual Stimuli
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$517,958.00
Summary
Our surroundings affect our bodies: light pollution, traffic, and aircraft noise all significantly affect cardiovascular health. This project will investigate interactions between brain systems that subconsciously scan our surroundings for interesting or threatening features, and those that co-ordinate the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. We will generate new knowledge that describes how the brain detects danger and translates this into signals that contribute to cardiovascular risk.
Improving Clinical Outcomes Of Antimicrobial Resistant Infections With A Drug-free Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$999,581.00
Summary
Superbugs, or antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, cause recurring infections and non-healing wounds after surgery as existing therapies fail to effectively kill them. We will develop a medical device to fight superbugs with UV light that is effective against bacteria and fungi without causing harm to human cells. This could eradicate superbugs at infection sites, aid wound healing and actively improve health outcomes after surgery.
Vascular Changes Are A Key Contributor To And Novel Drug Target For Interferon-alpha Induced Neurological Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,245,401.00
Summary
Type I interferons (IFN-Is) contribute to wide range of neurological diseases including ageing and neurodegeneration. At its extreme IFN-I-mediated neurodegeneration is known as 'interferonopathy'. The mechanisms of how IFN-Is drive disease are unclear, making causal treatment difficult. We have recently uncovered ground-breaking evidence that abnormal blood vessels are a key contributor to the disease. Here, we will investigate novel treatment targets for patients with interferonopathies.
Development Of Novel Anti-malaria Drugs That Block Parasite Invasion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,035,623.00
Summary
Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease that kills over 400,000 people a year. Antimalarial drugs play a crucial role in helping eradicate malaria but of great concern is that parasites are becoming resistant to current drugs. We are developing drugs that prevent parasites from invading and proliferating in human blood which causes malaria. We are also discovering how the drugs work with the aim of greatly improving their performance towards clinical uptake.
Harnessing Neural Plasticity To Improve Functional Outcomes Following Burn Injury.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$667,984.00
Summary
Burn is painful and leads to long-term functional impairment and increased chronic disease. Pain and peripheral injury induce changes in the brain that can be functionally beneficial or maladaptive, yet we know little about brain changes following burn injury. This project will identify the mechanisms and functional impact of neural plasticity after burn injury, and test the efficacy of a neural intervention to reduce pain and improve functional recovery following burn injury.