Vaccinating Against Helicobacter Pylori-induced Gastric Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,088,714.00
Summary
Stomach cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Most stomach cancers result from inflammation due to Helicobacter pylori infection. Most infections are treatable with antibiotics but this does not protect against cancers that develop before infection is diagnosed. Normal vaccine approaches aimed at this infection have been unsuccessful. We have identified a new approach for protecting against stomach cancer by preventing inflammation; this project aims to develop this vaccine.
Development Of A Novel Drug For Chronic And Infected Wounds
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$482,362.00
Summary
Chronic wounds affect more than 9 million people worldwide and demand for wound care is increasing. The annual cost to healthcare systems in the US and Australia in treating such wounds is US$25 billion and AU$3 billion, respectively, and there is urgent need for more effective approaches.
A Novel Mesenchymal Stromal Cell And Biomaterial For Corneal Reconstruction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,611.00
Summary
Our research group has identified a new cell type (L-MSC) with the potential to treat a variety of eye diseases. We have also developed a novel material from a protein found in silk, that has potential as a vehicle for delivering healthy cells into diseased eyes. The present project will build upon these promising results by evaluating the properties of L-MSC necessary for clinical use and by testing the feasibility of our new cell delivery system.
Role Of Hepatic Stellate Cell And Liver Progenitor Cell Interactions In The Regulation Of Wound Healing And Liver Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,716.00
Summary
The liver has a remarkable capacity for regeneration following acute and chronic liver injury, however, the mechanisms which facilitate this wound healing are not understood. This project will examine the interactions between different liver cell populations, including hepatic stellate cells (liver fibroblasts) and liver progenitor cells (stem cells of the liver) and will determine which factors regulate inflammation, liver scarring and restitution of liver mass following chronic liver injury.
Transcriptional Control Of Blood Vessel Development By Sox18
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$468,564.00
Summary
Blood vessels play an essential role in maintaining the supply of nutrients to every organ and tissue in the body. Improper development of blood vessels in the embryo can compromise survival of the embryo, and defects in the ability of blood vessels to grow, regenerate and adapt to change during adult life can be life-threatening. The growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is also an important factor in the ability of solid tumours to grow during the progression of cancer. It is therefore of ....Blood vessels play an essential role in maintaining the supply of nutrients to every organ and tissue in the body. Improper development of blood vessels in the embryo can compromise survival of the embryo, and defects in the ability of blood vessels to grow, regenerate and adapt to change during adult life can be life-threatening. The growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is also an important factor in the ability of solid tumours to grow during the progression of cancer. It is therefore of fundamental importance in the health sciences to gain an understanding of how blood vessels form and regenerate. As a result of our collaborative research efforts, we have discovered a gene, Sox18, that appears to regulate blood vessel development by controlling the formation and-or behaviour of endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels and make them impermeable. Our research so far indicates that MICE WITH DEFECTS IN SOX18 DIE FROM VASCULAR DEFECTS, underlining the importance of this gene. THIS PROJECT IS CONCERNED WITH FINDING OUT HOW SOX18 WORKS - exactly what goes wrong in mice lacking this gene, whether Sox18 can influence endothelial cell behaviour in cell culture, how Sox18 comes to be active in endothelial cells, what genes are switched on by Sox18, and what genes Sox18 co-operates with in its role in endothelial cells. The answers to these questions will not only provide fundamental basic information about how blood vessels development is controlled, but also sow the seeds for possible future therapies in which blood vessel development could be stimulated (eg in wound healing) or suppressed (eg in tumour progression) through pharmaceutical intervention.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms Of Hepatic Fibrogenesis In Chronic Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,209.00
Summary
Despite advances made in understanding the mechanisms of liver injury, chronic liver disease continues to be one of the most rapidly growing causes of death in subjects aged <65 years. This is the result of uncontrolled wound healing and regeneration leading ultimately to cirrhosis and liver cancer. This research will identify and characterise pathways that control the wound healing response to liver injury, involving the processes of inflammation, scarring and restitution of normal liver mas ....Despite advances made in understanding the mechanisms of liver injury, chronic liver disease continues to be one of the most rapidly growing causes of death in subjects aged <65 years. This is the result of uncontrolled wound healing and regeneration leading ultimately to cirrhosis and liver cancer. This research will identify and characterise pathways that control the wound healing response to liver injury, involving the processes of inflammation, scarring and restitution of normal liver mass.Read moreRead less