Muir Torre Syndrome: The Role Of IHC And Genotyping In Sebaceous Neoplasia To Facilitate Prevention Strategies In Colorectal And Endometrial Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$396,786.00
Summary
Sebaceous neoplasia (SN), may be an early warning sign for Lynch syndrome (LS), an inherited cancer predisposition caused by mutations in a group of genes. There are high lifetime risks of bowel and uterine cancer, for which there are effective risk management plans if the risk is known. Clinicians are challenged by the role of SN in identifying LS. At present, it is hard to differentiate. We aim to determine features to improve the diagnosis of LS carriers.
Influence Of Skin Cancer On Topical Elongate Microparticle Drug Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,589.00
Summary
This project builds on a novel cutaneous delivery method using ‘rod-shaped’ microparticles we developed in the Dermatology Research Centre. Microparticle administration results in multiple punctures of the skin’s tough outer layers, increasing permeability. Furthermore, microparticle administration results in a uniform and continuous drug delivery profile within the treatment area, which is an important attribute for the treatment of skin diseases.
Improving Treatment Of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Suppressing Cell Division Cycle Associated Protein 3 (CDCA3)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$194,446.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This project will establish the worth of suppressing the molecule ‘cell division cycle associated protein 3’ (CDCA3) in lung cancer. To do so, we will adjust the levels of CDCA3 in animal lung cancer models and treat the tumours with chemotherapy and the novel drug CX-4945. We expect that reduced levels of CDCA3 combined with CX-4945 and/or chemotherapy in NSCLC patients will benefit patient outcome.
Expanding Diagnostic Approaches For Lynch Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,269,355.00
Summary
Currently, there are ~1,000 families who have attended Family Cancer Clinics across Australia who have the hallmarks of having Lynch syndrome, a hereditary bowel cancer syndrome, but who have no gene defect identified, i.e. their cancer is unexplained. Clinicians are challenged by these “Lynch-like” patients as their family cancer risk is unknown. Our research has identified new gene defects in Lynch-like patients. Our aim is to optimise clinical testing approaches for Lynch-like patients.
Tumours secrete factors which are contained in specific structures called exosomes, and are used to prepare other organs of the body for subsequently incoming tumour cells, thereby facilitating the often mortal spread of the cancer. This project will investigate the way exosomes alter organs before tumour cells arrive, the composition of these exosomes in lung cancer patients and if they are novel markers for diseases progression as well as therapeutic intervention.
Understanding The Early-life Pathways For Adult Type 2 Diabetes Using Existing Data From Seven Cohorts Of The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,419.00
Summary
This project will allow us to determine the role that child factors play in the development of diabetes. We will do this using information that has been collected from individuals at several ages extending from childhood to adulthood, somewhat like the “Up” TV series. The project’s findings could lead to improvements in the way we identify people who are at risk of having adult diabetes. By doing so, we could begin programs to stop the young from being struck down by this debilitating disease.
Nanoparticle-based Anti-VEGF Treatment For Ocular Neovascularization
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$576,921.00
Summary
Diseases like AMD and DR are the leading cause for substantial and irreversible vision loss as a direct effect of pathologic ocular neovascularization and have a significant economic impact on individuals, families, health systems and countries. Nowadays, the treatment requires frequent intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF antibody with all the risks of an invasive intraocular procedure. Nanotechonoly-based drug delivery system will provide a less invasive treatment for this kind of disease.
IL-22 As A Suppressor Of Pancreatic ?-Cell Stress And A Treatment For Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$854,490.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes occurs when pancreatic beta cells fail to produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. We have discovered that the IL-22 protein produced by immune cells protects beta cells from stress. Diabetic mice given IL-22 show restored control of blood sugar levels. The proposed research will take steps to safely introduce IL-22 based therapy into the clinic and gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of action of IL-22.
Activating Mitochondria In White Adipose Tissue To Reduce Obesity Related Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$708,447.00
Summary
A major obstacle to managing obesity has been the inability to allow the body to store fat appropriately in fat tissue, leading to their unhealthy storage in other organs. We will test the prediction that drugs already available in the clinic which promote proper fat storage (but come with side-effects), work through a previously unacknowledged pathway. We will activate this pathway to test if it can reduce obesity associated complications without presenting with significant side effects.
Targeting RCAN1 To Treat Type 2 Diabetes And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,468.00
Summary
Obesity and impaired insulin secretion are significant contributors to Type 2 diabetes. In this project we demonstrate that a protein called RCAN1 contributes to both fat mass and insulin secretion and that this contribution is exacerbated in obesity and in Type 2 diabetes. We will identify how RCAN1 controls these major metabolic pathways with outcomes including the development of new therapeutics for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.