Defining The Impact Of Universal Iron Interventions In Young Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial In Rural Bangladesh
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,794,373.00
Summary
Although nearly half of the world's young children are anaemic, evidence regarding the best approaches to correct this problem are limited. New data even suggests that the conventional approaches (iron supplements, multiple micronutrient powders) may even be harmful. We will perform the definitive trial which will confirm the existence and magnitude of any benefit (and harm) from these interventions in young Bangladeshi children. This trial will inform global policy on anaemia control.
Benefits And Safety Of IRon Supplementation With MAlaria Chemoprevention To Children In Malawi (IRMA) - A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,064,309.00
Summary
Anaemia and malaria frequently coexist in low income settings e.g. sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Iron interventions aim to reduce anaemia but exacerbate malaria. We aim to test whether iron is made safe by coadministering malaria prevention, and whether these interventions improve child health outcomes especially cognitive development, while ensuring malaria resistance does not emerge.
Stem Cell Based Strategies For Re-establishing T Cell Immunity In Aging And Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$845,777.00
Summary
The thymus is the organ responsible for producing T cells, a key cell type in the body’s immune system. Certain cancer treatments damage the thymus, compromising the immune system and leaving patients susceptible to opportunistic infections. This proposal will develop clinically applicable strategies for generating functional human thymic mini-organs that could eventually help restore the immune system of people receiving treatment for cancer.
The Role Of Copper In Ubiquitin-dependent Protein Degradation In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$588,622.00
Summary
Ubiquitin’s are small proteins that tag other proteins in a process known as “Ubiquitination”. Often this is to target them for degradation once they are no longer needed i.e. to take out the rubbish. This process is disrupted in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which may contribute to the disease. This project aims to find out if copper, an essential metal for life, is required for this process. Drugs that are designed to deliver copper to brain cells have been effective in small AD clinical trials.
The Role Of Presenilin In Metal Homeostasis And Alzheimers Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,335.00
Summary
Presenilin, a protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), may regulate copper and zinc levels. Copper and zinc are essential nutrients however a deficiency or excess can cause disease. Promising metal-altering AD drugs, are in various stages of clinical trial. I aim to characterize the interaction of Presenilin and metals using both mouse and cultured human cell models that are deficient in Presenilin. Understanding this interaction should lead to better drug design and treatment of AD.
Investigating The Antimicrobial Activity Of Zinc At The Host-pneumococcal Interface
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a human-only bacterium that is responsible for killing more than one million people every year. This project will analyse how the human immune system fights this bacterium, and subsequently, how the bacteria manages to subvert these attacks and survive in the human host. This will provide crucial information for developing new drugs against this pathogen, in an attempt to combat the ever-increasing problem of antibiotic resistance.
The Clinicial Centre Of Research Excellence At The Jean Hailes Foundation: For The Study Of Women's Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,000,000.00
Summary
The major health issues affecting women from the mid-reproductive years include depression, disorders of mood and sexual function, and breast cancer, with cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis becoming increasingly prevalent with age. Linking each of these are their known or probable causal associations with oestrogens and androgens. This Centre will provide an opportunity for comprehensive and multidisciplinary research into the role of oestrogens and androgens in these disor ....The major health issues affecting women from the mid-reproductive years include depression, disorders of mood and sexual function, and breast cancer, with cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis becoming increasingly prevalent with age. Linking each of these are their known or probable causal associations with oestrogens and androgens. This Centre will provide an opportunity for comprehensive and multidisciplinary research into the role of oestrogens and androgens in these disorders.Read moreRead less
A Population-based Longitudinal Assessment Of Early Life Vitamin D And Risk Of Food Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,086.00
Summary
There has been a dramatic and unexplained increase in food allergy over recent decades. The increase in food allergy may relate to a concordant increase in early vitamin D insufficiency, however this hypothesis has never been directly tested. This project will use existing/funded samples from two NHMRC funded studies to conduct a detailed investigation of (i) the determinant and predictors of early life vitamin D insufficiency; and (ii) the association of vitamin D insufficiency and food allergy ....There has been a dramatic and unexplained increase in food allergy over recent decades. The increase in food allergy may relate to a concordant increase in early vitamin D insufficiency, however this hypothesis has never been directly tested. This project will use existing/funded samples from two NHMRC funded studies to conduct a detailed investigation of (i) the determinant and predictors of early life vitamin D insufficiency; and (ii) the association of vitamin D insufficiency and food allergy.Read moreRead less
The Coupling of Plasticity, Microstructure and Phase Transformations in the Design of Novel Magnesium Alloys for the Automotive Industry. The desire to reduce the weight of automobiles due to legislative requirements on fuel emissions and to reduce overall fuel consumption is the driving force behind research into the development of new Mg-based alloys to replace the heavier steel and Al-alloy components in automobiles. Given the enormous worldwide transportation market and the environmental and ....The Coupling of Plasticity, Microstructure and Phase Transformations in the Design of Novel Magnesium Alloys for the Automotive Industry. The desire to reduce the weight of automobiles due to legislative requirements on fuel emissions and to reduce overall fuel consumption is the driving force behind research into the development of new Mg-based alloys to replace the heavier steel and Al-alloy components in automobiles. Given the enormous worldwide transportation market and the environmental and legislative motivation for reducing fuel emissions, the development of new Mg-based alloys capable of meeting this demand from automotive manufacturers represents both a potentially large economic advantage to the country of development as well as helping to address the environmental concern about fuel emissions.Read moreRead less
The early tectonic evolution of the Curnamona Province. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the Curnamona Province preserves evidence for an extension-related structural geology architecture. This will allow a comparison of the basin evolution, crustal architecture and mechanisms of basin development between the Curnamona Province and well-understood basins of the Mount Isa Inlier. The project is expected to add value to pre-existing databases, and deliver a plate tectonic and str ....The early tectonic evolution of the Curnamona Province. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the Curnamona Province preserves evidence for an extension-related structural geology architecture. This will allow a comparison of the basin evolution, crustal architecture and mechanisms of basin development between the Curnamona Province and well-understood basins of the Mount Isa Inlier. The project is expected to add value to pre-existing databases, and deliver a plate tectonic and structural framework to interpret basin evolution and constrain geochronology/geochemical analysis, and develop a three-dimesional crustal architecture. The results will provide new constraints on the evolution of the Australian plate, and how the Australian crust has evolved.Read moreRead less