Biothermosetting Bone Filler: An Injectable Osteoconductive Repair Material
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,698.00
Summary
Bone injury is a common and profoundly debilitating issue, and is responsible for extended partial or complete loss of mobility and associated economic impact during slow healing. There is strong demand for technology that reduces the time taken for bone repair. There is still a paucity of clinically effective biocompatible materials for treatment. We have developed a novel approach for a thermoresponsive hydrogel with unique properties suitable for rapid bone filling and regeneration.
We have discovered a single tumour factor which causes cancer cachexia, a wasting condition that is one of the worst complications of malignancy, for which there is no current effective treatment. We have developed antibodies which effectively block this condition in preclinical models and have produced human/humanised version of this. This application is to characterise these human antibodies to allow us proceed to clinical trials.
Application Of Sutureless Technology 'SurgiLux' For Dura Mater Repair: A Proof Of Concept Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$213,125.00
Summary
A unique technology that combines biomaterials and lasers to effectively close and seal wounds could replace sutures in delicate surgery close to the brain. Wound closure in the cranium is still reliant upon sutures or 'stitches' and these have complications; a major one being leakage of cerebro spinal fluid (CSF). The application of 'SurgiLux' technology will both close and seal these wounds quickly and easily, with significant health and economic benefits.
Manufacture And Testing Of Next Generation Orthopaedic Implants Harnessing Periosteum's Regenerative Power
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,314.00
Summary
Tissue defects, e.g. due to trauma or tumor removal, are too large to heal without reconstructive surgery. Complications associated with defect repair may diminish the patient's quality of life and productivity, posing significant medical and psychosocial costs. Here we propose a plan to define technical specifications for next generation, "smart" orthopaedic implants that deliver cells and the signals they need to build new tissue using nature's paradigms.
Novel Silk Devices For Reconstructive Surgery And Repair Of Tympanic Membrane Perforations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$469,738.00
Summary
This project will use new silk fibroin materials to develop prototype devices for repair of ruptured ear drums. This will contribute to significant improvement in the quality of life of nearly 2.5 million people in Australia who are affected by hearing loss and further strengthen Australia's leading position in this area.
Novel Therapy For Enhancing Organ Maturation In Pre-term Babies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,323.00
Summary
This project is developing a factor to enhance organ maturation and repair that may provide a new therapy for premature babies and fetuses with birth defects. This exciting new finding allows for the development of treatments of underdeveloped organs, in particular the lungs of premature and growth restricted babies. We are also trialing this factor in unborn babies with defects to the kidneys and lungs of which there is currently no cure.
Sensitizing Tumours To Immunotherapy: Development Of An RNA-based Therapeutic For Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma That Targets The Immunosuppressive Tumour Microenvironment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$192,347.00
Summary
The blood vessels of tumours are highly abnormal resulting in leakiness and hypoxia within the microenvironment. These abnormalities contribute both to the pathology and also to resistance to treatment. We have developed a new drug that is able to inhibit vascular leak, better the response to therapies and improve disease outcome. This work will generate essential data for the development of this drug towards Clinical Trials through interaction with International Pharma.
Development Of A Safe Live Genetically Attenuated Blood Stage Malaria Vaccine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$822,191.00
Summary
Malaria presents an enormous global health problem, and also has a significant impact on social and economic development in countries where the disease is endemic. Our project will produce a live genetically-modified vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the form of malaria mostly deadly to humans. Our development plan will include the first ever clinical trials of a malaria vaccine of this kind and will look at vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Optimisation Of A Potent And Fast Acting Antimalarial Class That Is Orally Efficacious In Vivo
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,916.00
Summary
Malaria is a devastating disease that results in 600 000 deaths annually. Current therapeutics used to combat malaria have a limited duration of use in the clinic due to the onset of resistance. We have identified a highly active antimalarial series that we propose to further develop to meet the prerequisites required for partnership with the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) for progression into the clinic.
OctapeptinX Potentiators To Treat XDR Gram-negative Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,377,149.00
Summary
There is an urgent need for the development of new antibiotics to treat drug-resistant infections, with the World Health Organisation and other agencies warning of a critical threat to human health. Potentiators are drugs that help obsolete antibiotics regain activity against resistant bacteria. We aim to develop a novel class of potentiators, the octapeptins, to resurrect the activity of old antibiotics so they can be used to treat infections caused by highly-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.