Analysis Of The Role Of Rotavirus Infection In Development Of Type 1 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,875.00
Summary
Our earlier studies in children with a family history of type 1 diabetes have shown that infection with a common virus, rotavirus, may be one factor contributing to their progression to diabetes. Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration in young children, and it was thought that rotavirus infection is usually confined to the intestine. To understand how rotavirus infection might promote diabetes, my group has developed a mouse model. Using mice for these studies ....Our earlier studies in children with a family history of type 1 diabetes have shown that infection with a common virus, rotavirus, may be one factor contributing to their progression to diabetes. Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration in young children, and it was thought that rotavirus infection is usually confined to the intestine. To understand how rotavirus infection might promote diabetes, my group has developed a mouse model. Using mice for these studies allows us to control infection and completely analyse the results of infection, which we cannot do in humans. A type of mouse that is very likely to develop type 1 diabetes in its first 6 months of life is infected by mouth with rotavirus. We have shown that these mice develop diabetes 7 weeks faster than the same type of mice that are not given virus. In this project, we will determine the effects of mouse age, virus strain, the number of times infection occurs, and levels of virus growth in the intestine or pancreas on virus-induced diabetes acceleration. The ability of treatments for rotavirus infection, and vaccination against rotavirus, to block this accelerated diabetes also will be tested. We expect that rotavirus will be found growing in the pancreas, that virus growth is necessary for diabetes acceleration, and that prevention of rotavirus infection will also prevent the rapid diabetes onset. This model could prove to be suitable for testing the effectiveness and safety of new drugs and vaccines against both rotavirus and type 1 diabetes. Our studies will be crucial in determining the importance of rotavirus infection in the development of type 1 diabetes.Read moreRead less
Strategies To Reduce The Burden Of Gastroenteritis In Aboriginal Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in children. Despite early promise, vaccines which target rotavirus seem to be less effective in low-resource settings and also amongst Australian Indigenous children. This study seeks to assess whether an extra dose of rotavirus vaccine (RV1) will improve the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in Aboriginal children and result in decreased admissions and clinic visits in the first three years of life.
Overcoming Breast Cancer Heterogeneity And Resistance Using A Novel Therapeutic Approach Targeting The Metastasis Suppressor NDRG1.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Breast cancer (BrCa) is the leading cause of cancer death in women and current treatments suffer from development of resistance, leading to metastatic progression. I will assess a novel treatment strategy for BrCa, targeting a gene that is able to inhibit multiple key drivers of BrCa, using a novel potent and selective anti-cancer agent. This approach has the potential to overcome resistance to current therapies and alleviate the onset of metastasis, to improve prognosis for BrCa patients.
Epigenetic Therapies As Molecular Probes To Investigate The Molecular Pathogenesis Of Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$937,402.00
Summary
A major limitation to the success of targeted therapies in cancer is the fact that we have few if any tools to study in detail their mechanism of action within cancerous and normal cells. If we were able to visualise these drugs within cells and precisely characterise the proteins, DNA and RNA within a cell that interact with these therapies we will be able to identify strategies that can optimise their efficacy and reduce the side-effects of these treatments.
Modulation Of Type 1 Diabetes Development By Rotavirus Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,775.00
Summary
Rotavirus is the main cause of severe diarrhoea in children, and may contribute to progression to type 1 diabetes. We have now shown that rotavirus also modulates diabetes in mice, by a novel mechanism. In this project, the mechanism of this process will be elucidated and the capacity of human rotavirus to affect diabetes will be determined. This study will help determine the design of further human studies, and whether rotavirus vaccines also are possible modulators of diabetes development.
Uptake of fertility preservation procedures (eg. egg and embryo freezing) prior to cancer treatment is increasing and women will return to use these to try to conceive. Radiation may damage the uterus and there is insufficient evidence to guide the management of those exposed to intermediate doses. The aim is to improve understanding of radiation effects on the uterus which will assist clinicians with deciding whether it can support a pregnancy, or if surrogacy should be advised.
VCAM-targeted Delivery Of Recombinant CD39 To The Endothelium Is Antithrombotic, Antiinflammatory And Ameliorates Ischaemia Reperfusion Injury.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,327.00
Summary
Blockage of arteries with clots leads to heart attacks and strokes. Reestablishment of blood supply by clot-busting drugs or mechanical interventions paradoxically causes further organ injury. This is due to toxic chemicals generated by inflammatory processes and free oxygen radicals. We have created an unique drug that selectively targets blood vessels that are injured by process. The drug will deliver blood-thinning activity and reduce inflammatory stress selectively at the site of need.
A Pharmacological Targeting Approach Implementing Albumin As A Carrier Of A Novel Chemotherapeutic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,659.00
Summary
New drugs for cancer therapy are essential to develop that overcome resistance to standard chemotherapeutics. We have developed potent anti-cancer chelators that bind to the abundant plasma protein, albumin. Our studies showed increased tumour cell uptake of the chelator, Dp44mT, mediated by albumin. We will elucidate the mechanisms of their albumin-mediated uptake, with the aim to implement albumin nanoparticles as carriers of novel chelators to selectively target tumours.
A Pharmacological Targeting Approach Implementing Albumin As A Carrier Of A Novel Chemotherapeutic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,065.00
Summary
Novel agents that bind essential metals have emerged as a potential avenue for cancer therapy. My laboratory has developed potent anti-cancer agents, such as Dp44mT, that bind to the plasma protein, albumin. Notably, the uptake of Dp44mT into tumour cells was increased in the presence of albumin. My research will examine the mechanisms in the albumin-mediated increase in Dp44mT uptake into tumour cells, with the goal to develop albumin nanoparticles to selectively deliver our agents to tumours.