Altering Macrophage Phenotype For The Treatment Of Chronic Airway Disease And Lung Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$904,556.00
Summary
The aim of this proposal is to identify mechanisms through which the Src family kinase Hck promotes innate immune cell-dependent, chronic lung inflammation and lung cancer development. Our preliminary data suggest that excessive Hck activity provides a molecular mechanism to skew macrophage polarization towards an alternatively activated, M2-like phenotype associated with chronic airways disease, and the tumour promoting microenvironment.
A New Function For An Old Enzyme: Src Protein Kinase Directs Excitotoxic Neuronal Death In Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,975.00
Summary
In our previous investigation of how brain cells die in patients suffering from stroke, we found that stroke causes aberrant activation of an enzyme called Src in the affected brain cells. Furthermore, this aberrantly activated Src directs the brain cells to undergo cell death. Our proposal, which aims to decipher this neurotoxic mechanism of the aberrantly activated Src will benefit development of new therapeutic strategies to reduce brain damage in stroke patients.
Targeting TRPV4 Activation Mechanisms To Reveal Novel Pain Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,938.00
Summary
Pain nerves sense painful chemical and physical stimuli, by opening protein "ion channels" which let small electric currents traverse the cell membrane. This pain signal is transmitted to the spinal cord and then the brain, where it is perceived as pain and elicits a reaction. But we don't know how the ion channels open. This project will investigate how receptors for painful substances open ion channels to cause pain. Understanding this mechanism will help us to make new drugs to treat pain.