NOVEL NON-INVASIVE METHODS FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF PULMONARY VASCULAR DISEASE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,463.00
Summary
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe, progressive disorder. Current non-invasive diagnostic modalities are insensitive for detecting early disease, thus preventing early intervention with therapy. We aim to develop novel and reproducible ways to assess the pulmonary circulation, which will ultimately allow for the early diagnosis of PAH and in turn facilitate early initiation of treatment and improved patient outcomes.
Fibroblast Senescence As A Driver Of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$845,611.00
Summary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has no cure. Currently we think that IPF develops like normal wound healing, but the normal “braking” mechanisms in the myofibroblasts (the cells that produce the connective tissue) don’t work, such that too much connective tissue is produced and oxygen transfer to the blood is stopped. We have identified a protein we think stops, the myofibroblasts from dying. Reducing the activation of this protein should return the myofibroblasts function to normal.
Engineered Cell And Exosome Therapy For Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$838,490.00
Summary
Diseases affecting the blood vessels in the lungs cause early death and the currently available treatments are not curative. We will take advantage of the latest developments in the understanding of the molecular basis of these diseases to design and test a new treatment approach using cells and cell-derived products as a therapy.
Facilitating The Increase In Pulmonary Blood Flow At Birth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$617,729.00
Summary
Pulmonary hypertension in newborn infants is a significant problem that is very difficult to treat because we do not understand how blood flow through the lungs increases at birth. We have recently shown that currently believed mechanisms controlling blood flow at birth are incorrect and additional factors exist. Our experiments will determine factors that affect blood flow through the lungs at birth. This information will be used to improve the care of newborns with pulmonary hypertension.
Elucidating The Role And Potential For Therapeutic Targeting Of TLR7 In Emphysema And COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$925,780.00
Summary
Emphysema is a major cause of illness and death and there are no effective treatments. It is caused by smoking that damages the airways and air sacs but how this occurs is not well understood. We have found that a new factor, called Toll-like receptor 7, is involved in emphysema. In this study we will now characterise its roles in this disease, work out how it induces emphysema and test new inhibitors (antibodies) that we have developed as treatments.
Dissecting In Vivo Cellular Responses To Interferons In Pathogen-infected Hosts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$479,694.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by virulent bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is a leading cause of death worldwide. Mechanisms underlying host resistance to the pathogen are poorly understood. Using a novel reporter mouse, the function of interferons in Mtb infection will be defined in vivo by tracking the cytokine-responsive cells. This will increase our understanding of the effects of these important cytokines in vivo, and could provide new candidate biomarkers for TB diagnosis.
Studies On The Effects Of Endogenous And Exogenous Opioids In Modulating Exercise-induced Dyspnoea In People With Moderate / Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Two Double-blind Randomised, Placebo Controlled Trials.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$197,086.00
Summary
There is evidence that morphine-like chemicals made by the body itself help reduce breathlessness. It is not clear whether this response is because of the effects of these morphine-like chemicals on the brain, in the lung or both. This study will help understand where these chemicals act to reduce breathlessness in people with emphysema during exercise. Subsequently, it will also help to understand whether small, regular doses of morphine safely further reduce breathlessness during exercise.
Enhancing Innate Immune Responses To Influenza In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,323.00
Summary
Infection with influenza is a serious health problem for all, but particularly those with chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Current treatments are limited. We have previously shown that human COPD airway cells are more susceptible to infection with influenza and the virus is able to effectively block the early immune response. We propose to define the mechanism that underlie this and design novel inhibitors to enhance the early immune response of these c ....Infection with influenza is a serious health problem for all, but particularly those with chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Current treatments are limited. We have previously shown that human COPD airway cells are more susceptible to infection with influenza and the virus is able to effectively block the early immune response. We propose to define the mechanism that underlie this and design novel inhibitors to enhance the early immune response of these cells and reduce the effects of infection.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Role Of Th22 Cells In Regulating Respiratory Immune Responses In Health And Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,476.00
Summary
T cells that produce the cytokine IL-22 (Th22 cells) are found in infectious and inflammatory lung disease. However, the role of Th22 cells in promoting or preventing disease remains largely unknown. We have discovered how to grow Th22 cells and have generated a unique strain of IL-22 reporter mice, which will allow us to identify their role in infectious and inflammatory diseases. Our investigations will provide new insights into therapeutic approaches for these diseases of the lung.
Defining The Roles And Targeting Interferon-epsilon As A New Therapy For Influenza In Asthma And COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$905,904.00
Summary
Influenza is a major cause of illness and death, especially in people with asthma and emphysema. There are issues with vaccines and current treatments are poorly effective. Effective treatments are urgently required. We have found a new immune factor, interferon-epsilon that is induced and used by influenza viruses to cause infection. We aim to understand how this occurs and to test new treatments for influenza that suppress interferon-epsilon, in healthy and susceptible individuals.