Defining The Cellular Basis For Therapeutic Angiogenesis: Characterisation Of Endothelial Progenitor Cell Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,943.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the Australia. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), similar to stem cells, have strong self-renewal capabilities and the ability to mature further. There has been immense interest in using EPCs as they are believed to have a role in the growth and repair of blood vessels. This research systematically studies two candidate EPCs, the early EPC and the outgrowth EPC (OEC), and potentially paves the way for using EPCs to treat heart disease.
Dynamic Imaging Of The Immune Response In Lymph Nodes By Two-photon Microscopy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$79,514.00
Summary
Despite the enormous contribution of vaccination to the prevention of human disease and suffering, little is known about the laws that govern the selection and survival of B cells during the response to infection or vaccination. Our research projects aim to integrate several cutting-edge technologies, including two-photon microscopy, in order to understand the cellular and molecular basis of immunity.
Mechanisms Of T Cell Mediated Injury In Renal Vasculitis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$133,351.00
Summary
Anti-MPO glomerulonephritis (GN) is an aggressive disease causing severe and permanent injury to kidneys. This disease is thought to be due to an immune-mediated response to a protein (MPO) in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). There is some evidence that other immune cells, CD4+ T cells, may be important in this disease. Experiments using models of anti-MPO GN will aim to define the role and mechanisms by which CD4+ T cells cause inflammation in the kidney.
Optimising Human Vascularisation And Liver Tissue Engineering Models To Develop Functional Bio-artificial Human Liver Tissue
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,761.00
Summary
This project aims to grow human blood vessels and liver cells derived from human stem cells within a supporting scaffold to generate a “liver in a dish”. Transplantation involves connecting blood vessels in this structure to those of the recipient. This should restore function in mice with human-like liver disease, thereby demonstrating potential of this technology to be developed as an alternative to liver transplantation.
Correction Of Friedreich Ataxia Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells By Non-viral Gene Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$63,270.00
Summary
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited progressive disorder of the nervous system and heart. Stem cell therapy has the potential to repair or replace damaged tissues and restore organ function in FRDA patients. The defect inherent in stem cells obtained from FRDA patients will be corrected by a gene therapy approach that will restore normal FRDA gene expression and addresses major safety concerns for the clinical use of corrected stem cells in transplantation medicine.
Improving 3D Scaffolds For Skin Tissue Engineering Using Advanced Biotechnology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$68,971.00
Summary
Burns injuries are among the most physically and psychologically debilitating injuries. Patients who suffer from severe, extensive burn injuries can have a shortage of healthy, undamaged donor sites and so skin substitutes are used as alternatives to provide wound healing. However, the newly produced skin does not appear or function normally. The aim of this project is to develop a skin equivalent which will provide rapid regeneration of normal skin and improve a patient’s quality of life.
Modelling Age-related Macular Degeneration Using Patient Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,117.00
Summary
It is now possible to induce patient own skin cells to become stem cells. These cells can then be guided to become any cell of the body. This technique allows the study of disease cells without the need of obtaining biopsies from diseased tissue, such as the retina. This project aims to study age-related macular degeneration using patients’ stem cells, which will be differentiated into cells affected in AMD. The role of specific genetic risks in the biology of these cells will be investigated.
Characterising The Molecular Basis Of Cystic Kidney Diseases Using Kidney Organoids Created By Directed Differentiation Of Patient-derived, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,714.00
Summary
Inherited genetic mutations cause almost half of chronic kidney diseases in children. In most cases we do not know what the mutation is or how it causes kidney disease. In this study we will turn skin cells from children with kidney disease into stem cells and then use these to make a mini-kidney in a dish. This will act as a model of kidney disease allowing us to understand what the problem is at the level of changes within the cells. This may result in new ways of treating kidney disease.
Dengue Host-cell Signalling Interactions: Novel Insights And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Dengue is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes that occurs in many tropical and subtropical regions. Approximately 40% of the world's population is at risk of this infection. Sometimes it can be mild but it can lead to severe illness and death especially with second infections. The body produces a response that over-reacts to the virus in these severe infections. The project aims to understand why the body does this and what parts of the immune system are affected using a model in mice.