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.
Hype Or Hope? Platelet-Rich Plasma As A Symptom- And DisEaSe-modifying Treatment FOR Knee OstEoarthritis - The RESTORE Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,400,359.00
Summary
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a major public health problem worldwide with no cure. Thus safe and effective treatments that reduce symptoms and slow structural disease progression are needed. This clinical trial aims to test the effects of injections of platelet-rich plasma (a blood product) into the knee on pain and joint structure in 288 people with knee OA. The results will provide high quality evidence to determine whether platelet rich plasma should be used to treat knee OA.
CD4+CD8β+ Double-positive T-cell Regulation Of CD8 T-cell Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,983.00
Summary
T-cells are a type of white blood cell that play an essential role in the immune system. CD4+CD8+ Double-Positive (DP) T-cells are a rare and poorly defined T-cell subset associated with skin disease - however their function and subsequently their contribution to disease is not known. Our preliminary data suggest that these DP cells may regulate the function of other immune populations in the skin. This project aims to deliver key insights into DP cells and their role in skin disease.
A New Mouse Model That Determines The Effects Of A Unilateral Vestibular Prosthesis On Vestibular Plasticity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,678.00
Summary
Much like a cochlear implant restores auditory function, a vestibular prosthesis restores balance function. It is not clear whether the limited results from vestibular prostheses is due the device not stimulating one component (the otoliths) of the vestibular system essential for self-repair. We will test mutant mice that lack otoliths to determine the importance of stimulating the otoliths in restoring function. This work will shape the future direction of prosthesis development.
Neuronal Activity And Variability Underlying Perception And Action
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,802.00
Summary
Perception and behaviour are often unpredictable. We do not identically perceive repeated stimuli, and even professional athletes cannot precisely replicate their actions. This project compares variations in the activity of motion-sensitive neurons in the brain with variability in motion perception and eye movements. This should give insights into how neuronal activity underlies conscious perception and eye movements and may ultimately help treat conditions with impaired control of movement.
Can Systematically Developed Alcohol Health Warnings Reduce Drinking Intentions And Behaviours?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,617.00
Summary
This research will develop differently worded and formatted warnings about a wide range of harms of alcohol and assess adult drinkers’ responses to them, compared to current messages on alcohol containers. The study will use population surveys, discussion groups, message ratings and an experimental study with follow-up to determine the content and format of warnings with the greatest potential to encourage drinkers to reduce their alcohol-related risk.
How Chromatin Compaction Is Regulated And Its Link With Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,747.00
Summary
Chromosomes are constructed from very small particles called nucleosomes. How these nucleosomes interact with each other to build an entire chromosome is not known but elucidating this mechanism is critical in order to understand cancer when chromosomes become unstable. Furthermore, the strength of nucleosome-nucleosome interactions determines whether a gene is expressed or not. This study will elucidate the nature and the mechanism of how nucleosome-nucleosome interactions are regulated.
Prenatal And Early Postnatal Risk Factors For Autism Spectrum Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$706,595.00
Summary
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a debilitating developmental disorder affecting around 1% of Australians. We will examine ASD-like traits in twin children, adults followed since early gestation, and siblings of children with ASD, to test the theories that ASD is associated with enhanced levels of prenatal testosterone and early brain overgrowth. We hope to identify early biological markers for ASD, which may promote earlier identification and intervention of affected children.
Attentional Processing In Developmentally Vitamin D Deficient Rats: Modelling The Cognitive Symptoms Of Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,911.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is a poorly understood but very disabling group of brain disorders. There is an urgent need for animal models of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Based on clues from epidemiology, we have proposed that low prenatal vitamin D may be a risk factor for later development of schizophrenia. We propose to use a rat model with prenatal vitamin D deficiency to explore the neurobiological correlates of impaired cognition and as a platform to screen novel drugs to improve cognition.