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TARGETING THE CHK1-STAT3-CIP2A AXIS TO TREAT GLIOBLASTOMA (GBM)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,048.00
Summary
Glioblastoma (GBM is a high-grade brain tumour for which current treatments are inadequate. Tumour recurrence is almost inevitable and average life expectancy is measured in months. We have identified a DNA-damage signalling pathway and demonstrated that perturbation of the pathway significantly reduces tumour growth. We plan to target key proteins of the recently identified pathway and validate these findings using tumour cells directly from GBM patients and relevant animal models of human GBM.
The Retina As A Chemogenetic Target For The Treatment Of Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
Treatments for depression are often poor because they lack selectivity. By inserting receptors that respond to an inert drug, Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) can turn on-or-off very specific classes of cells, providing an exciting treatment direction for depression and other neuropsychiatric diseases. The long term goal of this project is to create a highly effective DREADD-based treatment for depression, which is activated by either eye drops or a pill.
Identiification Of Novel Biomarkers And Therapeutic Targets For The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,463.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with an appalling prognosis - only 6% of patient survive 5 years after diagnosis. The aim of this research is to use new technologies to find out how pancreatic cells become malignant and why the cancerous cells are so drug resistant. The goal is to ideantify cell markers to guide drug treatment design and new targets for antibody therapy. By combining emerging technologies we hope to achieve break-through outcomes in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Investigating The Utility Of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Of Beta-lactam Antibiotics In Hospitalised Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$215,887.00
Summary
The appropriate dosing of antibiotics for patients admitted to hospital is based on broad guidelines derived from studies in healthy volunteers or in patients that may have different types of infections. Minor changes in the clinical state of the patients can require significant dosing adjustments. The best way to guarantee appropriate antibiotic therapy is to individualize doses based on blood concentration data. We aim to determine the utility of dose adjustment in hospitalized patients.
Combinatorial Therapeutics In High-risk Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,891.00
Summary
Modern therapies for children with leukaemia are curative in more than 90%. In contrast, survival for infants less than one year of age at the time of diagnosis is less than 50%. Better therapies are desperately needed. From laboratory testing we have discovered effective novel cancer drugs, which are not currently used for treatment of babies with leukaemia. We will evaluate novel drug combinations and test them in model systems, such that they can be fast-tracked to the clinic.
Novel Signalling Pathways Leading To The Activation Of Glomerular Parietal Epithelial Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,768.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem in Australia. CKD patients have very limited therapeutic options. The majority of diseases that lead to CKD are associated scarring of the renal filters. Parietal epithelial cells reside in these filters and play key roles in scarring development. However, the molecular mechanisms that lead to scarring in these renal filters remain unclear. This proposal aims to identify molecular pathways that may serve as future therapeutic targets.
Developing New Therapies To Combat Tuberculosis Through Inhibition Of Vitamin B5 Metabolism In The Organism That Causes The Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,760.00
Summary
The metabolism of vitamin B5 by pathogenic microorganisms has been recognised as an attractive target for developing drugs to combat various infectious diseases. The aim of the proposed work is to develop inhibitors of vitamin B5 metabolism in the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, using a powerful, multidisciplinary approach known as “fragment-based drug discovery”. This work is likely to yield potent inhibitors of the target bacterium, which could ultimately be used to treat tuberculosis.
Elucidating The Mechanisms By Which Bis(thiosemicarbazone)-copper Complexes Protect Neurons In Models Of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,377.00
Summary
Dr Liddell is a neuroscientist investigating potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases of affecting the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. He is examining a class of metal-based compounds that are showing strong potential for disease treatment, and is investigating how these compounds work. The findings will be used to further develop and improve these therapeutic agents, and may help understand the underlying causes of these diseases.