Minimally-invasive Gene Delivery Of A Novel Inhibitor Of Retinal Angiogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,883.00
Summary
Excessive growth of blood vessels in the eye causes vision loss and can only be treated with lasers or painful and frequent injections into the eye. Vasostatin is a specific inhibitor of angiogenesis and a promising agent for the management of ocular neovascularisation. We will provide pre-clinical evidence that gene delivery of vasostatin-like peptides is an effective therapeutic strategy and it has potential to revolutionize the current ophthalmic care of age-related macular degeneration.
Functional Analysis Of Recently Identified Novel Glaucoma Genes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$519,918.00
Summary
Glaucoma is the commonest cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Recently, through genetic studies in cohorts of blinding glaucoma cases from Australia, our group has found that variants in two genes increase the risk of blinding glaucoma. This project will investigate how these genes contribute to pathological changes in the optic nerve and retina, at the back of the eye, that lead to glaucoma. This knowledge will be useful for developing new strategies to treat glaucoma.
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.
A System For Measurement Of Vision-specific Quality Of Life Using Item Banking And Computer Adaptive Testing (ViSBank)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$831,155.00
Summary
When evaluating medical treatments, it is important to consider all effects from the patient’s perspective; their quality of life. This project utilises new technology to develop an adaptable, computerised, internet-based system to measure the effects of eye diseases and their treatments on patients’ quality of life. This system will provide for more accurate, precise and efficient measurement than existing methods.
Brm And Brg-1 Protect From Ultraviolet Radiation-induced Skin And Ocular Damage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,325.00
Summary
Ultraviolet radiation within sunlight is the most important environmental hazard to which Australians are exposed. It causes cancers of the skin and eye, in addition to other forms of skin and eye damage. However sunlight also has health benefits such as vitamin D production. To protect our health from the sun we need to understand how it causes damage and the meachanisms involved. We have discovered a new pathway that we plan to study, called Brm and Brg-1, that provides protection from UV.
Galectin-3 And Phagocyte Function In Severe Asthma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$698,084.00
Summary
Asthma, a major chronic inflammatory disease affects more than 2 million Australians. Neutrophilic severe asthma is not responsive to current therapies. We have recently made a significant advance in understanding neutrophilic asthma, reporting low levels of a protein called galectin-3 (gal-3). In this project we will explore the role of gal-3 its effect on the resolution of inflammation. This study will result significantly advance the knowledge of the mechanisms of neutrophilic severe asthma.
Cell Surface Mucins In Gastrointestinal Infection, Inflammation And Cancer Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,627.00
Summary
Cell surface mucins are protective molecules that line all the wet surface of the body, including the gastrointestinal tract. Our research has uncovered that mucins regulate cell growth and cell death. Inappropriate control by the mucins, could lead to chronic inflammation and formation of cancers. We will test how important these molecules are in the development of cancers in the intestine, and further explore the mechanism of action.
G-CSF: A Pathogenic Effector In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease And Its Comorbidities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,241,551.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an incurable lung disease that is a huge global health burden, and new therapies are urgently needed. We have recently discovered a possible cause of COPD. This single factor also appears to drive other associated medical problems that are the biggest contributors to patient deterioration. Using advanced genetics, biochemistry and molecular methods we are searching for ways to turn our discovery into effective treatments for this fatal disease.
Inflammometry In Stable COPD; A Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,351.00
Summary
COPD is a common condition associated with many clinical consequences that negatively impact on quality of life. The burden of illness from COPD remains high despite current treatment. There is an urgent need to improve management of COPD and we propose that individualized management targeted to airway and systemic inflammation will do this. This study will examine the effect of targeted anti-inflammatory treatment in patients with COPD and will examine the role of a simple blood test to assess ....COPD is a common condition associated with many clinical consequences that negatively impact on quality of life. The burden of illness from COPD remains high despite current treatment. There is an urgent need to improve management of COPD and we propose that individualized management targeted to airway and systemic inflammation will do this. This study will examine the effect of targeted anti-inflammatory treatment in patients with COPD and will examine the role of a simple blood test to assess and manage COPD.Read moreRead less
The long-term side effects of renal denervation are unknown. This project is designed to (1) investigate the potential atherosclerosis-promoting effect of renal denervation, and (2) to study the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs to minimize this potential side effect. Ultimately, this project may improve the beneficial effects and minimize the potential side effects of renal denervation by routinely treating renal denervated patients with anti-inflammatory drugs.