Interactions Between Protein Leverage, Variety, And Dietary Carbohydrate And Fat Content In The Control Of Energy Intake In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,950.00
Summary
Most attempts to understand human vulnerability to obesity have focussed on fat and carbohydrate, yet recent studies have shown a powerful role for protein: we eat more calories when dietary protein concentration is low. But how does protein interact with other aspects of the diet, notably the prodigious variety of foods available in modern environments and the balance of fat to carbohydrate? We will use controlled trials to investigate how these factors contribute to excess energy intake.
Central Neural Circuits Subserving Nutrient–activated Thermogenesis - The Basis Of Post Prandial Energy Expenditure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$766,207.00
Summary
Studies of “energy burning” brown fat, including its importance in the determination of obesity in humans and the potential to increase its capacity by turning white fat into brown-like fat are currently foremost in obesity research. Here we study the detail of brain pathways that dictate brown fat activity after a meal resulting in the burning of ingested calories and reduction of body weight. The results will give us a better idea of how we can harness brown fat to combat obesity.
Investigating Dietary Vitamin D In The Australian Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,476.00
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency is a significant public health issue in Australia: almost one in four adults, and one in five adolescents, are vitamin D deficient. Although vitamin D can be obtained from sun exposure and diet, we know very little about dietary vitamin D in Australia. This project will determine how much vitamin D is in Australian foods, how much people get from their usual diets, and whether increasing vitamin D in foods would be a safe and effective way to reduce vitamin D deficiency.
Ageing And Latelife Health: Calories, Macronutrients Or Branched Chain Amino Acids?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$746,459.00
Summary
The prevailing dogma of ageing research has been that a substantive reduction in caloric intake maintained over a lifetime will delay ageing and age-related pathologies (caloric restriction - CR). Yet CR does not differentiate between the effects of reduced intake of calories versus specific macronutrients, nor can it assess the impact of balance of macronutrients. This application seeks to disentangle the role of CR and macronutrients on their effects on healthspan and lifespan in mice.
Effects Of Dietary Amino And Fatty Acids On Energy Intake And Glycaemia - Implications For Novel Approaches To The Management Of Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$584,032.00
Summary
Current obesity treatments are limited in efficacy or have adverse effects. Our research has shown that specific fatty acids and amino acids markedly suppress energy intake and reduce blood glucose, without adverse effects. The goal of the proposed work is to evaluate the translational potential of these discoveries in obese diabetic patients. Ultimately, we hope to develop the findings from this research into novel, nutrient-based strategies for the management/prevention of obesity/diabetes.
Understanding The Role Of Sugar Metabolism In Liver Tumour Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,979.00
Summary
Primary liver cancer is a deadly disease with limited chemotherapeutic options. The investigators of this proposal have recently determined that sugar intake (but not fat or complex carbohydrate) is a dominant driver of liver tumour growth in mice. The current proposal will investigate the specific contributions of glucose versus fructose in tumour burden, and determine whether blocking the conversion of sugars to fat in the liver represents a therapeutic strategy to block tumour growth in mice.
A Novel Nanoparticulate Iron Supplement And Its Effect On The Gastrointestinal Tract.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$671,995.00
Summary
Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are major global health issues. Currently available iron supplements can lead to gastrointestinal side effects. We have developed a new type of oral iron supplement that (in animal studies) is as effective as conventional treatments, but without their limitations. In this project we will investigate the effect of this supplement on the gastrointestinal tract to ensure its safety and to provide preliminary data for future clinical trials in humans.
Prospective Methylation Biomarker Validation Study In Lung Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$528,281.00
Summary
Lung cancer is a major public health burden with increasing incidence every year. Despite advances, the biology of lung cancer associated with its recurrence either local or distant, with non-smoking lung cancer subtypes and asbestos-related lung cancer remains unexplored.
Identification And Erradication Of Pre-malignant B Cells In The Prevention Of Lymphoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,771.00
Summary
B Cell Lymphoma is the most frequent type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults and despite improved treatment, 40-50% of patients succumb to their disease. T cells are critical in the in the prevention B cell lymphoma development. In this project we aim to identify the earliest stages of B cell lymphoma and mechanisms of escape from T cell control with the ultimate aim to translate these findings to human studies to improve disease diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Establishment Of A Biomarker To Test Molecular Risk Of Gastric Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$834,448.00
Summary
Less than 20% of patients live 5 years after a diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC). This is due to the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. We have no markers to monitor therapy of cancer. This proposal aims to use next generation sequencing to find specific genetic changes in a persons tumour that can be used to monitor therapy. We aim to use the same technology to group patients into high-risk or low risk for development of GC. This will allow specific screening only for those at high-risk.