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Failure to correctly regulate cell death leads to a number of diseases, including cancers and auto-immune diseases. Viruses have the ability to hijack the host cell death machinery for their own benefit. Viral infections have been linked to a number of cancers. We aim to target the ability of viruses to hijack the process of cell death to develop new treatments against virus-linked cancers including Burkitt's Lymphoma and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
Characterisation Of The Molecular Mechanisms Of Abeta-induced Proteolysis Of The Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule 2 (NCAM2)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,666.00
Summary
Neurons in the brain are connected by synaptic contacts. Amyloid beta peptide accumulating in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease destroys synaptic contacts by degrading synaptic cell adhesion molecules which maintain the structure of the contacts. The aim of the project is to characterise the molecular mechanisms of amyloid beta-dependent degradation of synaptic cell adhesion molecules. The project will identify strategies that can be used to inhibit synapse loss in Alzheimer’s disease.
How The Dosage Of A Down Syndrome Candidate Gene Affects Neural Circuitry And Behaviour
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,961.00
Summary
In Down syndrome, an extra copy of chromosome 21 increases gene expression and leads to brain defects. We hypothesise that one candidate gene, Dscam2, changes its function with increased expression. This causes brain cells that normally stick to each other to repel each other, leading to inappropriate connections in the brain. We will test this model in the fruit fly and demonstrate for the first time a mechanism dependent on gene expression that can lead to brain abnormalities in Down syndrome.
Targeting The Hypoxia Sensing Pathway To Improve Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilisation And Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,313.00
Summary
Transplantation of patients’ own blood stem cells is used to treat many blood cancers. It increases the chance of cure. However the damage caused by chemotherapies used to combat the cancer can compromise stem cell collection and transplantation. Without transplant, these patients are less likely to survive cancer. This project is to test new drugs that enhance the harvest of blood stem cells for transplantation. These will increase the success rates of transplants and cure in these cancer patie ....Transplantation of patients’ own blood stem cells is used to treat many blood cancers. It increases the chance of cure. However the damage caused by chemotherapies used to combat the cancer can compromise stem cell collection and transplantation. Without transplant, these patients are less likely to survive cancer. This project is to test new drugs that enhance the harvest of blood stem cells for transplantation. These will increase the success rates of transplants and cure in these cancer patients.Read moreRead less
Improving Treatment Of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Suppressing Cell Division Cycle Associated Protein 3 (CDCA3)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$194,446.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This project will establish the worth of suppressing the molecule ‘cell division cycle associated protein 3’ (CDCA3) in lung cancer. To do so, we will adjust the levels of CDCA3 in animal lung cancer models and treat the tumours with chemotherapy and the novel drug CX-4945. We expect that reduced levels of CDCA3 combined with CX-4945 and/or chemotherapy in NSCLC patients will benefit patient outcome.
Tumours secrete factors which are contained in specific structures called exosomes, and are used to prepare other organs of the body for subsequently incoming tumour cells, thereby facilitating the often mortal spread of the cancer. This project will investigate the way exosomes alter organs before tumour cells arrive, the composition of these exosomes in lung cancer patients and if they are novel markers for diseases progression as well as therapeutic intervention.
Functional Characterisation Of A New Surface Adhesion Molecule On Human Vascular Progenitor Cells To Combat Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$593,794.00
Summary
Collectively, diseases of the blood vascular system contribute immensely to the burden of health care in Australia. Notably, abnormal blood vessel formation is a major cause or contributor to many diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ischemia injury and diabetes. This project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms associated with aberrant angiogenesis such that it may aid in the identification of novel targets for the development of therapeutics.
Improving Synthetic Methodology To Prepare Pre-clinical Analogues Of Human Insulin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,708.00
Summary
The glucose regulatory hormone, insulin, remains the only treatment for type I diabetes and up to 30% of type II diabetes, both of which are among the world’s fastest growing chronic diseases today. Because insulin, if taken orally, would be broken down quickly, it has usually been given by injection. This project will develop novel chemical methods for the efficient preparation of novel insulin therapeutics with improved stability and oral bioavailability for prolonged treatment of patients.
Microtubule Cytoskeleton In Tumourigenesis And Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,885.00
Summary
Over one million cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year worldwide, making this the leading cause of cancer death. Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for more than 80% of lung cancer cases. We have identified a protein called ?III-tubulin that is often highly expressed in aggressive and drug resistant NSCLC, and is involved in tumour formation. We will examine how ?III-tubulin is working and identify ways to target this protein to stop tumour growth.
Development Of Carbohydrate Based Self-adjuvanting Vaccine Delivery System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,647.00
Summary
The world is in a need for effective vaccines for the treatment/prevention of a range of currently occurring diseases. The aim of this project is to develop sugar/lipid-based delivery systems by revolutionary new chemo-enzymatic technology. Expected outcomes of the project will be numerous biologically active vaccine candidates and novel technologies which will lead to effective therapeutic products.