AMPK Control Of Lipid Metabolism: Role In Regulating Energy Balance And Insulin Sensitivity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$614,437.00
Summary
The control of appetite and maintenance of a lean body mass along with exercise is important for protecting the body against obesity and increased incidence of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We are investigating how the regulation of lipid metabolism controls appetite and body weight and the extent to which these same controls are important for drugs acting to lower blood lipid levels.
Does A Whey-Protein And Vitamin D Enriched Drink Enhance The Health Benefits Of The Lift For Life® Resistance Training Program In Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,023.00
Summary
Since type 2 diabetes is projected to affect over 1.8 million Australians by 2025, there is an urgent need to identify safe and acceptable population-based strategies to improve glucose metabolism and related cardiometabolic risks factors which are common in this population. This study will examine whether increased dietary protein and vitamin D treatment can enhance the effects of resistance training on body composition, glycaemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults with ty ....Since type 2 diabetes is projected to affect over 1.8 million Australians by 2025, there is an urgent need to identify safe and acceptable population-based strategies to improve glucose metabolism and related cardiometabolic risks factors which are common in this population. This study will examine whether increased dietary protein and vitamin D treatment can enhance the effects of resistance training on body composition, glycaemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults with type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Role Of Mutant P53 And MCL-1 In The Sustained Growth Of MYC Lymphomas And Strategies For Targeted Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$616,940.00
Summary
A large number of human cancers have abnormal expression of a protein called MYC, leading to rapid growth. We found that when another protein called MCL-1 was inactivated, the lymphomas regressed. Importantly, mutations in the tumour suppressor gene called p53 are frequently found in cancer cells and we noticed that this could reduce the dependency on MCL-1. We aim to investigate this further in this grant proposal, in part using a novel drug that targets MCL-1.
Structural Investigations Of The Bax And Bak Cell Death Apparatus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,509.00
Summary
Programmed cell death is a process by which the body keeps rogue cells in check. Cancer cells adapt to avoid this process and thus evade this important defence mechanism. This project seeks to understand the machinery that controls programmed cell death at the molecular level. It will provide the atomic details of how this machinery is regulated and how it functions to induce cell death. These insights will provide new avenues for targeting this machinery for a new generation of cancer therapeut ....Programmed cell death is a process by which the body keeps rogue cells in check. Cancer cells adapt to avoid this process and thus evade this important defence mechanism. This project seeks to understand the machinery that controls programmed cell death at the molecular level. It will provide the atomic details of how this machinery is regulated and how it functions to induce cell death. These insights will provide new avenues for targeting this machinery for a new generation of cancer therapeutics.Read moreRead less
The Axis Of Bcl-2, Plasmacytoid DCs And Lupus As A Basis For Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$712,172.00
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects 1 in 1000 Australians, mostly women. Here the immune system goes awry and makes antibodies against the body’s own components including the body’s DNA. This leads to damage to many parts of the body including kidneys, joints, brain and heart. It is incurable. A particular immune cell controls the development of this disease and we have found this cell is selectively killed by an inexpensive drug, which we hope will be a better way of treating SLE.
Role Of Hsp40 And Hsp70 In Huntingtin Misfolding, Oligomerization And Inclusion Assembly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$590,103.00
Summary
Huntington disease results from a mutation that causes the Htt protein to become abnormally sticky and form toxic clusters in neurons. Cells have natural defences to clustering with proteins called chaperones, which are exciting therapeutic targets. This project will examine how chaperones defend against toxic Htt clustering with cutting-edge imaging technologies. The knowledge gained will aid in designing therapeutic strategies that stimulate the defence processes and suppress the clusters.
Examining The Contribution Of Mutant DNMT3a In The Development And Sustained Growth Of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$820,880.00
Summary
Experimental models of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) have been valuable tools for studying this cancer. Recent analysis of human cancer genomes identified novel mutated gene products implicated in AML. To study the involvement of these genes in the development and sustained growth of AML, we will generate new experimental models that express the mutated forms of these newly described genes. These studies will assist in the development of improved treatments for patients with AML.
DOES BCL-G, A BH3-ONLY PROTEIN, PLAY A ROLE IN INFLAMMATION-ASSOCIATED COLON CANCER?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,587.00
Summary
Deregulation of the function of several members of the Bcl-2 family has been shown to be an aggravating factor in autoimmune diseases and cancer. Bcl-G is a new and poorly characterized member of this family. We have produced essential tools to study the physiological function of Bcl-G, and discovered that it plays a role in inflammatory bowel disease. We now plan to investigate its possible role in inflammation-associated colon cancer.?
Understanding The Activation Of Pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 Family Proteins For The Development Of Modulators Of Apoptosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,805.00
Summary
Programmed cell death is a process by which the body protects against rogue cells, eg cells potentially cancerous or infected by viruses. Dysregulation of the process occurs in cancer and can also lead to degenerative diseases. This work will discover the molecular mechanisms by which key proteins control the life/death switch in cells and will develop compounds capable of regulating their activity, setting the foundation for developing therapeutics aimed at regulating these processes.
Developing Novel Molecules That Target Hormone Receptors As An Alternative Cancer Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,867.00
Summary
A promising class of cancer drugs target heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and prevent Hsp90 from maintaining its ~100 proteins involved in cell growth. However, all current Hsp90 chemotherapeutics non-selectively target proteins maintained by Hsp90, and induce a cell rescue mechanism involving Hsp70. We describe the development of a novel molecule that will selectively control cell growth and prevent cell rescue via a unique Hsp90 regulated mechanism.