Understanding the biology of reactive oxygen species. This project will utilise forefront technologies to identify and characterise fundamental biological processes involving toxic free radicals that cause infectious disease and cancer. The approach synergises with researchers across disciplines and universities to ultimately identify future drugs to improve and maintain health.
Understanding endogenous allosteric modulators of G protein-coupled receptors. Major life science challenges include how chemicals outside cells signal to proteins inside, how this results in physiological responses, and how dysfunction of these processes leads to pathophysiology. Despite the critical importance of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), much remains to be learned about their regulation by endogenous and synthetic molecules. This project aims to address this gap, by building on rec ....Understanding endogenous allosteric modulators of G protein-coupled receptors. Major life science challenges include how chemicals outside cells signal to proteins inside, how this results in physiological responses, and how dysfunction of these processes leads to pathophysiology. Despite the critical importance of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), much remains to be learned about their regulation by endogenous and synthetic molecules. This project aims to address this gap, by building on recent ground-breaking studies that have been performed, by focusing on alternative binding sites of GPCRs called allosteric sites. The major hypothesis is that these allosteric sites are widespread across GPCRs because the body produces endogenous allosteric ligands that remain largely unidentified, but which can play vital roles in biology.Read moreRead less
Treating tuberculosis: targeted delivery of multidrug nano-suspensions. Tuberculosis (TB) is a lung disease of worldwide prevalence. Treatment times are long and mortality is high in children and the elderly. Current treatments are ineffective and drug resistant TB is a real pandemic threat. The project will develop a cost-effective nano-particle system that can be incorporated into conventional nebulisers for use worldwide.
Investigating the actions of anti-inflammatory pathways in chronic lung disease. There is an urgent need to develop better drugs for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as patients become resistant to currently used anti-inflammatory drugs with disease progression. This research will uncover fundamental biology into an important class of anti-inflammatory receptor termed ALX/FPR2. This receptor normally coordinates the clearance of infection and injured tissue and subsequently switches ....Investigating the actions of anti-inflammatory pathways in chronic lung disease. There is an urgent need to develop better drugs for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as patients become resistant to currently used anti-inflammatory drugs with disease progression. This research will uncover fundamental biology into an important class of anti-inflammatory receptor termed ALX/FPR2. This receptor normally coordinates the clearance of infection and injured tissue and subsequently switches off inflammation. Essential knowledge into why this receptor pathway fails to switch off inflammation will be determined. Furthermore, the development of targeting strategies to this receptor represents an innovative approach to blocking damaging and chronic airway inflammation.Read moreRead less
Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. This project aims to develop nano-particulate systems based on a single platform technology that can be delivered as an aerosol. The current lack of a suitable formulation and delivery system hinders the eradication of fungal and bacterial biofilms from surfaces. These new systems will have enhanced residency time, penetration properties and effectiveness in biofilms. This project intends to under ....Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. Advanced nanotechnologies for targeting biofilms. This project aims to develop nano-particulate systems based on a single platform technology that can be delivered as an aerosol. The current lack of a suitable formulation and delivery system hinders the eradication of fungal and bacterial biofilms from surfaces. These new systems will have enhanced residency time, penetration properties and effectiveness in biofilms. This project intends to understand the properties that govern the formation and interactions in these systems, and develop in-vitro tools that the wider scientific community can use. The project expects to generate a single platform that can be used for the eradication of biofilms in numerous applications, from healthcare to agriculture.Read moreRead less
Ultra-low dose dry powder inhaler technology for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Drug molecules are being developed for respiratory diseases, which are highly potent but beyond our capability in terms of delivery. Using a combination of high-end particle engineering and characterisation approaches, coupled with computational modelling, the project will develop a theoretical model that can be used to deliver ultra-low doses to the lungs.
A tight squeeze: engineering anti-fibrotic depot aerosols that circumvent the epithelia. A new molecule for the treatment of pulmonary lung fibrosis has been developed but there is no inhalation medicine capable of targeting the responsible cells. This project will develop an advanced inhalation technology capable of bypassing the lung surface so that we can target the fibrotic cells beneath.
One for all and all for one: Engineering a drug delivery platform for DNA vaccines to the lung. Vaccination using next generation DNA plasmids is hindered by the lack of a suitable delivery technology. This project aims to develop a low-cost vaccination platform that can deliver any DNA vaccine via inhalation. High efficiency dry powder particles that contain a novel synthetic cell penetration enhancer and incorporate the drug delivery vehicle in a disposable inhalation device will be engineered ....One for all and all for one: Engineering a drug delivery platform for DNA vaccines to the lung. Vaccination using next generation DNA plasmids is hindered by the lack of a suitable delivery technology. This project aims to develop a low-cost vaccination platform that can deliver any DNA vaccine via inhalation. High efficiency dry powder particles that contain a novel synthetic cell penetration enhancer and incorporate the drug delivery vehicle in a disposable inhalation device will be engineered. The project aims to help develop a fundamental understanding of the properties that govern interactions in these systems, and a number of in vitro tools that can be used by the wider scientific community. Ultimately, a single platform that can be used for the vaccination of any disease will be created.Read moreRead less
Pandora's toolbox: The use of Fluorosomes to formulate nanoparticle gene therapy for respiratory diseases. This project will result in a technology for treating lung diseases. A new approach to gene therapy will be developed via packaging these bio-molecule inside a self-assembled Fluorosome structure for delivery using conventional pressurised inhalers. These systems will be investigated using state-of-the-art technologies developed during the project.
Smart hybrid system for the formulation and design of dry powder inhalers. This project aims to develop a greater understanding of the link between inhaler device components and the dry powder formulation within. From this understanding, the project aims to develop a hybrid model for the design and manufacture of dry powder inhalers with improved aerosol deposition performances as well as an enhanced capacity to predict formulation performance. The long term benefits will be improved delivery ef ....Smart hybrid system for the formulation and design of dry powder inhalers. This project aims to develop a greater understanding of the link between inhaler device components and the dry powder formulation within. From this understanding, the project aims to develop a hybrid model for the design and manufacture of dry powder inhalers with improved aerosol deposition performances as well as an enhanced capacity to predict formulation performance. The long term benefits will be improved delivery efficiency and shorter development times, leading to reduced manufacturing costs.Read moreRead less