Pathogenesis, Treatment And Prevention Of Bacterial Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$9,752,075.00
Summary
Bacterial infectious diseases remain a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. This is a broad-based collaborative proposal, building on our previous achievements. Its aim is to better understand the dynamic interactions between major disease-causing bacteria and their human hosts, and to directly apply this new knowledge to the development of improved vaccines and novel treatment strategies. These are urgently needed to combat bacterial infectious diseas ....Bacterial infectious diseases remain a serious threat to human health, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. This is a broad-based collaborative proposal, building on our previous achievements. Its aim is to better understand the dynamic interactions between major disease-causing bacteria and their human hosts, and to directly apply this new knowledge to the development of improved vaccines and novel treatment strategies. These are urgently needed to combat bacterial infectious diseases in the 21st centuryRead moreRead less
The genome project has opened the path for the study of diseases using genetics. This approach is still quite recent in human and mammalian biology. It requires a large amount of input from statisticians and computer scientists as well as from the biologists and clinicians working on the disease. The team is looking for genes causing complex genetic diseases and use human populations and families as well as mouse models of human diseases. This includes modifiers of cancer development and respons ....The genome project has opened the path for the study of diseases using genetics. This approach is still quite recent in human and mammalian biology. It requires a large amount of input from statisticians and computer scientists as well as from the biologists and clinicians working on the disease. The team is looking for genes causing complex genetic diseases and use human populations and families as well as mouse models of human diseases. This includes modifiers of cancer development and response to infectious disease as well as deafness and autoimmune diseases.Read moreRead less
Development Of Innovative Approaches To Manage Insect-transmitted Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,435,142.00
Summary
This program grant focuses on the development of new methods to control mosquito-borne diseases, including those caused by dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and chikungunya viruses. We are investigating whether the introduction of Wolbachia micro-organisms into mosquitoes can be used to selectively eliminate old mosquitoes and reduce transmission of human pathogens. We will also determine whether Wolbachia have any non-lethal affects on mosquito behaviours such as dispersal and biting activity whic ....This program grant focuses on the development of new methods to control mosquito-borne diseases, including those caused by dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and chikungunya viruses. We are investigating whether the introduction of Wolbachia micro-organisms into mosquitoes can be used to selectively eliminate old mosquitoes and reduce transmission of human pathogens. We will also determine whether Wolbachia have any non-lethal affects on mosquito behaviours such as dispersal and biting activity which determine the level of contact between mosquitoes and humans.Read moreRead less
This program application seeks to draw on the skills of a world leading group of Australian researchers to bring novel HIV vaccine designs to clinical trials, improve vaccine design and create new opportunities for commercialisation. The Chief Investigators, Prof David Cooper, Prof Peter Doherty (Nobel Prize winner), A-Prof Stephen Kent and Prof Ian Ramshaw, have achieved major scientific developments including: innovative collaborative clinical trials, cutting edge research in T cell immunology ....This program application seeks to draw on the skills of a world leading group of Australian researchers to bring novel HIV vaccine designs to clinical trials, improve vaccine design and create new opportunities for commercialisation. The Chief Investigators, Prof David Cooper, Prof Peter Doherty (Nobel Prize winner), A-Prof Stephen Kent and Prof Ian Ramshaw, have achieved major scientific developments including: innovative collaborative clinical trials, cutting edge research in T cell immunology, the establishment of the only PC3-level nonhuman primate facility in the Southern hemisphere, T cell immunogenicity of the DNA-viral vector prime-boost vaccine regimens and ground-breaking research on cytokine co-expressing viral vector vaccines. The Principle Investigators also have a record of substantial achievement in relation to HIV and T cell biology as well as novel vaccination technologies. There is a strong history of successful collaboration among this group leading to the award of major NIH funding.Read moreRead less
This program will investigate the strategies used by pathogenic bacteria to cause human diseases. The research will focus on how bacteria initiate infections, how they invade, cause cell and tissue damage and respond to their human host. It will also examine how the host’s innate immune system interacts with these bacteria. The results will provide new insights into host-pathogen interactions and reveal new targets for the development of novel antibacterial drugs and vaccines.
The development of vaccines and better treatments for HIV-AIDS and Hepatitis C are urgent global health priorities. This Program will undertake studies to better understand effective immunity against HIV and hepatitis C, allowing the rational design and testing of novel vaccines and treatments. The Program brings together a team of researchers with skills in basic virology and immunology with those providing expertise in translating findings in the laboratory into human clinical trials.
While current influenza vaccines blunt winter epidemics, they must be updated frequently to keep up with virus mutation and they do not protect against pandemics caused by new flu viruses (such as bird flu). This program will define how flu virus interacts with the immune system to generate immunity mediated particularly by “killer” T cells. We will use this knowledge to develop and evaluate vaccines that induce long-lasting T-cell immunity that can protect against both seasonal and pandemic flu ....While current influenza vaccines blunt winter epidemics, they must be updated frequently to keep up with virus mutation and they do not protect against pandemics caused by new flu viruses (such as bird flu). This program will define how flu virus interacts with the immune system to generate immunity mediated particularly by “killer” T cells. We will use this knowledge to develop and evaluate vaccines that induce long-lasting T-cell immunity that can protect against both seasonal and pandemic flu.Read moreRead less
Insult, Injury And Recovery In Brain Disease: From Molecules To Therapeutic Outcome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,215,611.00
Summary
When nerve cells are damaged, destroyed or injured, through disease or trauma, common pathological processes are set in train. Even though there are many factors that might trigger disease, these inevitably lead to common processes that end in cell death or initiate protective processes. One theme involves the factors that surround these responses to nerve injury and stress, and the consequent protective and regenerative responses that ensue. Another theme, closely integrates with the first, is ....When nerve cells are damaged, destroyed or injured, through disease or trauma, common pathological processes are set in train. Even though there are many factors that might trigger disease, these inevitably lead to common processes that end in cell death or initiate protective processes. One theme involves the factors that surround these responses to nerve injury and stress, and the consequent protective and regenerative responses that ensue. Another theme, closely integrates with the first, is to exploit basic biological mechanisms with the aim of identifying and developing therapeutic targets for the management of a wider range of neurological conditions.Read moreRead less