Adequate nutrition is necessary for recovery from illness. 30-40% of hospitalised patients may be malnourished. The critically ill are at higher risk because of increased energy requirements yet often receive less than 50% of required nutritional intake. Adequate nutrition therapy is associated with improved patient outcomes, such as reduced mortality and reduced infectious complications. Robust strategies to implement of evidence-based recommendations for nutrition therapy are required.
Role of ferroxidases in intestinal iron transport. This project will investigate the mechanism by which the body absorbs the essential nutrient iron from the diet. These studies will enhance our knowledge of an important nutritional pathway and improve our capacity to treat diseases where iron absorption is defective, such as the iron loading disorder haemochromatosis.
Design rules for nutritionally-functional grains. Design rules for nutritionally-functional grains. This project aims to design the most comprehensive specifications yet for nutritionally enhanced and health-modulating starch in grain-based foods. Why starch resists small intestinal digestion is not understood; this limits plant breeders and food (ingredient) manufacturers’ ability to tailor starch structures for optimal human nutritional value. This project will study how resistant starch survi ....Design rules for nutritionally-functional grains. Design rules for nutritionally-functional grains. This project aims to design the most comprehensive specifications yet for nutritionally enhanced and health-modulating starch in grain-based foods. Why starch resists small intestinal digestion is not understood; this limits plant breeders and food (ingredient) manufacturers’ ability to tailor starch structures for optimal human nutritional value. This project will study how resistant starch survives digestion in the small intestine and passed to the large intestine using a model for the large intestine to define the microbial fermentation of resistant starch fractions. This research is expected to improve breeding programmes and food ingredients and promote the nutritional value of grain-based foods.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC130100011
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,695,000.00
Summary
Agents of change: transforming the food industry for Australia, Asia and beyond. Agents of change: transforming the food industry for Australia, Asia and beyond. This Training Centre will train a cohort of innovation scientists who will facilitate transformation of the Australian food industry. This will include manufacturing, processing and value chain analysis, and take advantage of opportunities for Australia to meet the demand for safe, healthy and high quality foods and retail-ready ingredi ....Agents of change: transforming the food industry for Australia, Asia and beyond. Agents of change: transforming the food industry for Australia, Asia and beyond. This Training Centre will train a cohort of innovation scientists who will facilitate transformation of the Australian food industry. This will include manufacturing, processing and value chain analysis, and take advantage of opportunities for Australia to meet the demand for safe, healthy and high quality foods and retail-ready ingredients in the Asian century.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC140100027
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,150,000.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Functional Grains. ARC Training Centre for Functional Grains. The Training Centre aims to improve the profitability of the Australian grains industry. It plans to achieve this by adding value to rice, canola and pulses through: the development of a better understanding of market opportunities; improving storage technologies; the development of products which improve returns to the industry and result in better health outcomes for consumers; and improving processing method ....ARC Training Centre for Functional Grains. ARC Training Centre for Functional Grains. The Training Centre aims to improve the profitability of the Australian grains industry. It plans to achieve this by adding value to rice, canola and pulses through: the development of a better understanding of market opportunities; improving storage technologies; the development of products which improve returns to the industry and result in better health outcomes for consumers; and improving processing methods to generate these products.Read moreRead less
Mitochondrially targeted anti-cancer drugs modulate the mitochondrial genome. Successful cancer management requires novel therapeutical approaches. This project will test the effect of a new class of compounds that target mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cells, where they suppress expression of mitochondrial genes. By this mechanism, cancers that are resistant to apoptosis induction can be inhibited.
Identifying Resistance Mechanisms Of Targeted BRAF Inhibitors In Metastatic Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$379,015.00
Summary
Late-stage melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer for which traditional treatment strategies such as chemotherapy are ineffective. Recently, a new class of targeted drugs (BRAF inhibitors) has become the standard of care for a subset of melanoma patients; however, long term treatment success is complicated by drug resistance. This study will identify the causes of resistance with the purpose to improve targeted drug strategies and increase survival rates for late-stage melanoma patients.
Physiologically-based Pharmacokinetics And Pharmacodynamics Of Therapeutic Stem Cells For Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$848,710.00
Summary
This project focuses on the challenging area of effective and optimal dosing cell-based therapy for liver diseases. We will investigate the fate and therapeutic effects of natural, modified and artificial therapeutic cells in the body and in liver regions using a physiologically-based kinetic model. Our key goal is advance cell therapy by providing a better understanding and dosing guidelines.
Cellular genomic approach to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. This project compares the levels of gene usage in two important immune cell types between patients with multiple sclerosis and people who do not have the disease. It aims to identify the molecular basis for the disease, in order to identify new diagnostic, preventative and treatment options.
DsbA Foldases From Multidrug Resistant Pathogens As Targets For New Antimicrobials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,401.00
Summary
Bacteria that cause common human infections, such as cystitis and diarrhoea, are now resistant to many antibiotics. If no action is taken, by 2050 antibiotic resistant infections will kill more people each year than cancer. This project aims to address this global public health crisis by characterising promising new bacterial targets and inhibitors designed to disarm multidrug resistant pathogens. Longer term this work could provide new infection therapies that are urgently needed.