Identifying And Characterizing Genes That Regulate Breast Tumorigenesis And Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
I am a breast cancer biologist. My research focuses on identifying the changes in normal cells that allow cancer to form, and identifying the changes in cancer cells that allows them to spread. To accomplish this, I have developed new methods using mouse models of breast cancer. My goal is to use these methods to further our understanding of the causes of breast cancer development and progression.
Development Of Cancer Immunotherapy Using Gene-engineered T Cells In A Self-antigen Mouse Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,602.00
Summary
Killer T lymphocytes can penetrate tumours and their transfer into cancer patients has demonstrated some encouraging results, but this form of therapy and other approaches including vaccination remain ineffective in most cancer patients. In this project, we propose to improve the tumour trafficking and anti-tumour activities of killer cells by genetically engineering them with proteins that will enable them to recognise and destroy cancer cells.
Investigating The Dynamic Interactions Between Immune And Cancer Cells Using Two-photon Intravital Microscopy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
Immune cells normally aid tumour destruction, but in some situations do the reverse and promote tumour spread. We will utilize cutting edge techniques including 2-photon microscopy together with novel transgenic mouse models to track immune cells in real time during tumour development in order to identify what factors determine a positive versus negative outcome. This will give us an unprecedented opportunity to ‘see’ how these cells interact with malignant cells which could lead to novel therap ....Immune cells normally aid tumour destruction, but in some situations do the reverse and promote tumour spread. We will utilize cutting edge techniques including 2-photon microscopy together with novel transgenic mouse models to track immune cells in real time during tumour development in order to identify what factors determine a positive versus negative outcome. This will give us an unprecedented opportunity to ‘see’ how these cells interact with malignant cells which could lead to novel therapeutic approaches.Read moreRead less
Understanding And Effectively Treating Cognitive And Functioning Impairments In Youth With Psychosis And Other Mental Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Impaired thinking skills, such as memory, concentration and problem solving, emerge early in psychotic and other mental disorders, which has a negative impact on functioning in work and other daily activities. Current treatments are not very effective at addressing this. The research proposed in this fellowship will improve knowledge about these impairments and develop and test a range of interventions that treat thinking skill difficulties and improve daily functioning in youth mental illness.
Identification And Targeting Of A Potent NK Cell “checkpoint” In Tumour Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
Cancer must evade detection by the immune system in order to develop. Natural Killer (NK) cells can detect and kill cancer cells. We have discovered a potent "checkpoint" in the NK cell activation pathway that desensitizes NK cells to growth factors and switches off their activation and killer function. When this checkpoint is inhibited, NK cells become hyper-activated and prevent most types of cancer metastasis in mice. Targeting this checkpoint in humans could revolutionise cancer therapy
Dynamic In Vivo Imaging Of Molecular And Cellular Events Shaping The Immune Response In Mouse Models And Human Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
We plan to develop the instruments and associated technologies required to directly visualise biological processes as the occur in real-time deep inside living organisms. Thus we will use two-photon microscopy to provide deep tissue imaging of immune cell interactions in mouse models and confocal endomicroscopy to provide molecular imaging of cancer biomarkers in patients with colorectal cancer.
Targeting Tumour-Stromal Interactions In Pancreatic Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,095.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer claims five Australian lives every day and is one of the nations most lethal diseases. Despite aggressive treatment regimes, there has been no improvement in patient survival in the last decade. Evidence suggests that targeting cancer cells alone is not enough. The intense stromal reaction inhibits drug delivery and increases the aggressiveness of the tumours. Thus, depletion of the stroma or pancreatic stellate cells is a potential therapeutic target.