Novel Regulators Of Phosphate Homeostasis In Phosphate Wasting Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,513.00
Summary
This project investigates two phosphate wasting disorders - tumour-associated osteomalacia and inherited X-linked low phosphate rickets. The active factor responsible for the tumour-associated condition remains unidentified and despite isolation of the gene responsible, the mechanism of the inherited rickets is also unexplained . The proposed outcomes of this project address both these issues. Whilst the condition of the tumour-associated osteomalacia is relatively uncommon, it continues to be a ....This project investigates two phosphate wasting disorders - tumour-associated osteomalacia and inherited X-linked low phosphate rickets. The active factor responsible for the tumour-associated condition remains unidentified and despite isolation of the gene responsible, the mechanism of the inherited rickets is also unexplained . The proposed outcomes of this project address both these issues. Whilst the condition of the tumour-associated osteomalacia is relatively uncommon, it continues to be a clinical problem because its presentation is often non-specific and the tumour is often very difficult to find. To date our studies have helped in the identification of patients likely to have the condition. Furthermore, while the phosphate wasting factor may be produced in abnormally large amounts by the tumour in this condition, it is likely that the factor and the enzyme which may be associated with it have physiological roles in maintaining normal phosphate concentrations. Looking further ahead, the phosphate wasting factor may have a clinical use in patients with renal failure and phosphate retention.Read moreRead less
Peripheral Neuropathy And Pain: Role Of The Sphingosine Kinase-sphingosine 1-phosphate System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$282,905.00
Summary
Understanding the neural mechanisms that generate pathological pain remains one of the essential goals for the development of effective treatments for pain, chronic pain with less side effects. Lipids are able to modulate pain perception. We will determine the role of a molecule named sphingosine 1-phosphate as a basis for the development of therapies for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Dental caries (tooth decay) is initiated by demineralisation of tooth hard tissue by organic acids produced by dental plaque bacteria from dietary sugars. The disease is a major public health problem and has an estimated economic burden in Australia of over $1 billion p.a. being higher than that for any other dietary-related disease. We have discovered and patented a novel amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate that is stabilised by phosphopeptides from the bovine milk protein casein. These comple ....Dental caries (tooth decay) is initiated by demineralisation of tooth hard tissue by organic acids produced by dental plaque bacteria from dietary sugars. The disease is a major public health problem and has an estimated economic burden in Australia of over $1 billion p.a. being higher than that for any other dietary-related disease. We have discovered and patented a novel amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate that is stabilised by phosphopeptides from the bovine milk protein casein. These complexes, designated CPP-ACFP, have the potential to provide superior clinical efficacy in preventing dental caries and treating and repairing early stages of disease. The aims of this project therefore are (i) to develop topical formulations of CPP-ACFP for application to teeth to repair early stages of decay and (ii) to characterise the three-dimensional structure of the CPP-ACFP complexes. The significance of this work is that a superior and novel treatment for dental caries may be developed as well as providing insight into the structure of organically-stabilised amorphous calcium phosphate and its role in biomineralisation processes.Read moreRead less