Blood Biomarker Discovery For The Diagnosis Of Alzheimers Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,639.00
Summary
Alzheimer's disease (AD) currently affects approximately 24 million people world wide, with >200,000 people within Australia currently affected, by 2050 an estimated 730,000+ people will be affected. The discovery of blood based biomarkers for AD will enable earlier diagnosis of AD, allowing early preventative treatments to be given. Thus, reduce the rate of disease progression and the cost of care and, gain significant improvement in the quality of life for the patients and their families.
It has been proposed that inflammation plays a major role in prostate cancer risk. We are well placed to test this hypothesis following up evidence from our MCCS and RFPCS studies of associations between inflammatory markers and prostate cancer risk. This proposed project may open for the first time opportunities for the prevention of prostate cancer.
A Novel Approach To Cytokine Blockade For The Treatment Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,700.00
Summary
Lupus is a disease of the immune system which can cause inflammation and damage to many organs and even death, often affecting young people in their prime of life. Current treatments are limited and often have undesirable side effects. Certain cells and molecules are thought to be responsible for causing lupus. This project will examine the effect of blocking one of these molecules as a means of treating lupus. It will also use gene and protein analysis of samples from lupus patients to see if r ....Lupus is a disease of the immune system which can cause inflammation and damage to many organs and even death, often affecting young people in their prime of life. Current treatments are limited and often have undesirable side effects. Certain cells and molecules are thought to be responsible for causing lupus. This project will examine the effect of blocking one of these molecules as a means of treating lupus. It will also use gene and protein analysis of samples from lupus patients to see if response to treatments can be predicted.Read moreRead less
Circulating Tumour DNA To Monitor Treatment Response And Resistance In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$876,950.00
Summary
Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (ctDNA) into the patient’s bloodstream and recent advances in genomic technologies now allow levels of ctDNA to be accurately measured in the blood. Changes in ctDNA levels have potential to be used as specific markers of disease progression and/or response to cancer therapy. This project will evaluate if ctDNA can be used to monitor treatment responses and individualise treatment decisions in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
Circulating Tumour DNA As A Noninvasive Biomarker In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,299,114.00
Summary
The expanding repertoire of treatment options in melanoma is bringing into focus the need for improved ways to accurately monitor treatment responses and guide treatment decisions. Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (ctDNA) into the bloodstream and changes in ctDNA levels have potential to be used as specific markers of response to cancer therapy. This project will evaluate if ctDNA can be used as a form of ‘liquid biopsy’ to guide treatment decisions in patients with melanoma.
Circulating Tumor DNA To Monitor Treatment Response And Resistance In Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,714.00
Summary
Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA into the patient’s bloodstream. Recent advances in genomic technologies now allow small levels of cancer DNA to be accurately measured in the peripheral blood. Changes in DNA levels have the potential to be used as specific markers of disease progression and/or response to cancer therapy. This project will evaluate if this DNA can be measured from a simple blood test to serially follow patients receiving treatment for mantle cell lymphoma.
A Comparative Cognitive And Neuroimaging Study Of Pre-diagnosis And Symptomatic Individuals With Huntingtons Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$585,557.00
Summary
Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric disturbance. Neuroimaging techniques provide a range of measures that can characterize underlying brain changes. This study will use a range of clinical, behavioural, and brain imaging techniques to uncover the most sensitive and reliable marker of change in both pre diagnostic and early symptomatic HD. Therapeutic interventions can only be tested once markers have been identified.
Use Of Circulating Tumour DNA To Characterise The Mutational Landscape Of Marginal Zone Lymphoma, Monitor Treatment Response And Detect Emergence Of Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is a subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma for which the molecular drivers of disease are poorly understood. We hypothesise that circulating tumour DNA may be ideal for characterising the genetic mutations that underpin MZL, monitoring treatment response and detecting emergence of resistance. This non-invasive method of disease monitoring has the potential to transform management of cancers such as MZL, identify new treatment options and improve survival outcomes.