The Impact Of The Identification And Inclusion Of Acceptable HLA-mismatches On The Transplant Potential Of Highly-sensitised Renal Transplant Candidates.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,323.00
Summary
In Australia, allocation of donor kidneys are currently weighted largely on the degree of donor-recipient HLA compatibility. However, not all HLA mismatches leads to negative outcomes. Acceptable HLA-mismatches are antigen mismatches that can be considered compatible at a structural and functional level and have been applied to circumvent the problem of difficulty finding suitable donors for highly-sensitised transplant candidates. We apply this concept to the Australian kidney transplant popula ....In Australia, allocation of donor kidneys are currently weighted largely on the degree of donor-recipient HLA compatibility. However, not all HLA mismatches leads to negative outcomes. Acceptable HLA-mismatches are antigen mismatches that can be considered compatible at a structural and functional level and have been applied to circumvent the problem of difficulty finding suitable donors for highly-sensitised transplant candidates. We apply this concept to the Australian kidney transplant population.Read moreRead less
Antigen-specific Regulatory T Cells And HLA Associations In Autoimmune Renal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Glomerulonephritis (GN), a common cause of kidney failure, usually results from an immune system attack on the kidneys. Current treatments suppress the whole immune system, making patients vulnerable to infection. We aim to harness the body’s protective immune cells (Tregs) as a potential GN treatment. Using mice genetically programmed to mimic a human GN, we will test if specifically targeted Tregs protect mice from disease. We will also test how they affect blood samples from humans with GN.
Development Of Novel Biomarkers For Closed Loop Deep Brain Stimulation In The Management Of Parkinson’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is established therapy in advanced Parkinson’s disease, when medications are less efficient. We aim to identify biomarkers that correlate with symptom state, allowing tailoring of DBS to individual patient’s needs. This will potentially improve symptom control, device efficiency and quality of life, increasing the pool of patients suitable for DBS. Novel DBS systems will build technical expertise and expand Australia’s role in the medical device industry.
Proof Of Principle For Minimally-Invasive Intravascular Brain-Computer Interface
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,068.00
Summary
Severe injury to limb or spinal cord leads to significant disability. Despite advances in many areas of modern medicine, prosthetic limbs have changed little over decades. A new field of medicine seeks to create a "brain-computer interface" that is capable of controlling a robotic limb, or any electronic device just by thinking. Brain-computer interfaces are currently implanted in an open brain operation. This project aims to demonstrate that a brain-computer interface can be be implanted in a m ....Severe injury to limb or spinal cord leads to significant disability. Despite advances in many areas of modern medicine, prosthetic limbs have changed little over decades. A new field of medicine seeks to create a "brain-computer interface" that is capable of controlling a robotic limb, or any electronic device just by thinking. Brain-computer interfaces are currently implanted in an open brain operation. This project aims to demonstrate that a brain-computer interface can be be implanted in a minimally invasive procedure.Read moreRead less
Growth factors are essential molecules for normal brain development. Variations in the amount of the different growth factors have been implicated in such diseases as AlzheimerÍs and ParkinsonÍs disease. This project will study the precursor of a growth factor known as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and what specific roles the precursor might play in brain development.