Thyroid-sympathoadrenal Regulation Of Human Brown Fat
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,141.00
Summary
This project aims to determine how hormones influence the growth and activity of brown fat in humans. Majority of fat cells in the body are white fat cells, which store fat, and cause obesity when in excess. Brown fat cells function like generators. They burn fat and release energy as heat. Humans with lots of brown fat are lean. What controls brown fat activity is currently unknown in humans. This project investigates how hormones influence brown fat activity and may shed light on the therapeut ....This project aims to determine how hormones influence the growth and activity of brown fat in humans. Majority of fat cells in the body are white fat cells, which store fat, and cause obesity when in excess. Brown fat cells function like generators. They burn fat and release energy as heat. Humans with lots of brown fat are lean. What controls brown fat activity is currently unknown in humans. This project investigates how hormones influence brown fat activity and may shed light on the therapeutic potential of brown fat in obesity treatment.Read moreRead less
Nuclear Receptors And Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$681,979.00
Summary
This project will explore the potential for a nuclear receptor known as the thyroid receptor to suppress growth of breast cancer using cell culture models and mouse models. We hope to show that activating the thyroid receptors leads to a reduction in breast cancer growth providing evidence that the thyroid receptor pathway could be targeted for therapy.
Thyroid hormones are regulators of development and metabolism. The lack of concordance of thyroid function and disease in identical twins suggests that environmental effects have a significant role. Quantifying epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, has the potential to identify causal effects from the environment. This research will provide a comprehensive database of DNA methylome alterations that will contribute important insights into thyroid function in health and disease.
Identification Of Genetic Variants Regulating Thyroid Function In Health And Disease By Next Generation Sequencing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,433.00
Summary
Small differences in thyroid function are associated with important clinical outcomes including longevity and cardiovascular disease. We recently completed a Genome Wide Association Study and identified a novel locus associated with blood levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. In this project we will extend that research to study rare genetic variants and examine their association with thyroid function in health and disease.
Biomarkers For The Treatment And Prognosis Of Sight-threatening Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,305.00
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a highly specific vascular complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with prevalence strongly related to the duration of diabetes. Clinic biomarkers of DR have become the basis for preventive medicine. In this project, we aim to evaluate possible biomarkers in both Chinese and Australian diabetic populations at different stages of DR. We will also investigate pathological mechanisms and novel drugs to treat DR in animal models.
Hormone Transport By Alpha-2-Macroglobulin: Novel Roles In Regulating Hormone Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,857.00
Summary
Alpha-2-macroglobulin is a large protein in the blood known to bind and transport numerous hormones in the circulation. Our previous studies published in BLOOD (2009) and JBC (2013) have discovered an important role for this molecule in the transport and regulation of a peptide hormone. The studies proposed in this application have important implications for understanding new roles of alpha-2-macroglobulin in hormone binding and regulating the activity of hormones in disease states.
Steroid hormones, such as oestrogen and cortisol, act in the body by binding a family of proteins (nuclear receptors) that bind directly to the DNA to regulate genes. The mechanisms underlying this process are complex and involve recruitment of additional molecules or coactivators to improve efficiency. Recently a novel coactivator was identified termed SRA, which remarkably is never made into protein in cells, rather exerting its effects as a RNA. We have identified a novel family of proteins t ....Steroid hormones, such as oestrogen and cortisol, act in the body by binding a family of proteins (nuclear receptors) that bind directly to the DNA to regulate genes. The mechanisms underlying this process are complex and involve recruitment of additional molecules or coactivators to improve efficiency. Recently a novel coactivator was identified termed SRA, which remarkably is never made into protein in cells, rather exerting its effects as a RNA. We have identified a novel family of proteins that bind to SRA in cancer cells, and may well play a critical role in regulating how SRA modulates genes. This project seeks to understand how this family interacts with SRA, the functional effects on breast cancer cells, and the detailed 3-dimensional structure of the family members coupled with SRA. This work will provide novel insight into how SRA regulates steroid hormone action, and may create new potential avenues for developing therapeutics in breast cancer.Read moreRead less
I am a reproductive physiologist investigating the nature and actions of hormones, particularly steroids and transforming growth factor-? superfamily members, regulating follicle growth and oocyte quality in the ovary, implantation and breakthrough bleedi