Our goal is to discover new mechanisms involved in our cells’ delicate balancing act with respect to cholesterol levels. Understanding how production of cholesterol is controlled in our cells is key to developing new drugs aimed at preventing its excessive accumulation. This will have long-term benefits for health considering that a cellular imbalance in cholesterol is involved in two of the most common conditions threatening the health of Australians, namely heart disease and Alzheimer’s diseas ....Our goal is to discover new mechanisms involved in our cells’ delicate balancing act with respect to cholesterol levels. Understanding how production of cholesterol is controlled in our cells is key to developing new drugs aimed at preventing its excessive accumulation. This will have long-term benefits for health considering that a cellular imbalance in cholesterol is involved in two of the most common conditions threatening the health of Australians, namely heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.Read moreRead less
Functional Characterization Of The Regulatory Architecture Of Melanoma-associated Loci
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,663.00
Summary
Melanoma accounts for more than 75% of skin cancer related deaths. In Australia, >10,000 new cases are diagnosed yearly. In this proposal, we will apply novel genetic sequencing technologies developed in our laboratory to examine genomic regions that are associated with melanoma development. By focusing on selected areas, we will obtain a much deeper understanding of how these genes are regulated and find new ways of detecting and treating this disease.
Protein Preloads To Improve Postprandial Glycaemia In Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$624,458.00
Summary
Taking a high protein drink can substantially lower the blood glucose rise after a subsequent meal in people with type 2 diabetes. We will examine whether regular use of protein drinks before meals can be effective for improving long-term blood glucose control. Such an approach could represent an exciting new nutritional strategy for managing this increasingly common disorder.
Quantifying The Effectiveness Of Pertussis Vaccine In Older Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,703.00
Summary
Pertussis is the most poorly controlled vaccine preventable disease in Australia. Childhood pertussis is a well-known public health problem but adult pertussis is also common and has a significant burden on the health system, especially in adults over 65 years. Pertussis vaccines for adults are currently not funded by our national immunisation program. This project will provide vital data to inform whether pertussis vaccination is cost-effective in older Australian adults.
Genomic Analysis Of The Novel Epigenetic Modifier Smchd1 As A Tumour Suppressor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$619,142.00
Summary
Epigenetic modifications are changes made to our DNA that act like punctuation marks in the genome, to instruct the cell when to turn genes on and when to switch them off. Epigenetic control is critical to range of different biological processes, and also goes awry in cancer. We are specifically interested in the role of one new protein involved in epigentic control and characterising its role as a tumour suppressor.
Genomic Analysis Of The Role Of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) In Haematopoietic Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,150.00
Summary
Epigenetic modifications are changes made to our DNA that act like punctuation marks in the genome, to instruct the cell when to turn genes on and when to switch them off. Epigenetic control is critical to range of different biological processes. We are specifically interested in how different components of the molecular epigenetic machinery interact and contribute to blood stem cell function.
Inhibiting Tumour Growth By Targeting EphA3 And Disrupting Tumour Stromal And Vascular Microenvironment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,136.00
Summary
Tumours consist of cancer cells, tumour blood vessels and connective tissue, all of which are different to normal tissues. Many of the cells making up tumour vessels and connective tissue are recruited, during initial growth and subsequent spreading of tumours, from the bone marrow. Our research will examine the presence and function of the EphA3 receptor on these cells during tumour development and assess how our anti-EphA3 antibody inhibits tumour growth by targeting stroma and vasculature.
CAGE: Consortium For The Architecture Of Gene Expression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$501,080.00
Summary
This research project is about understanding why some people are most susceptible to disease than others, by identifying genetic factors that influence the expression of genes that are important in disease. We will work with leaders in the field in Europe and the USA in an international research consortium to find genetic variants with an effect on gene expression and to link those genetic factors to disease. The project will provide new understanding about the biological basis of common disease ....This research project is about understanding why some people are most susceptible to disease than others, by identifying genetic factors that influence the expression of genes that are important in disease. We will work with leaders in the field in Europe and the USA in an international research consortium to find genetic variants with an effect on gene expression and to link those genetic factors to disease. The project will provide new understanding about the biological basis of common diseases.Read moreRead less
Successful HIV remission and cure, where patients can live normally without daily drug therapy and risk of transmitting infectious virus, will critically depend on understanding the mechanisms that control the expression of viral messenger RNA and proteins. This project further explores the mechanisms controling poorly understood steps in the proecssing of viral mRNA that are required for HIV protein produciton, and identifies new targets and strategies to drive HIV into permanent remission.
Release The Sterile Males: A New Direction For Mosquito Population Control Technologies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,110,112.00
Summary
With over 40% of humans at risk from mosquito-borne disease, new environmentally friendly mosquito control tools are required. We’ve developed a novel sterile male population suppression technology – using neither radiation nor genetic modification – to produce sterile adult male mosquitoes from both male and female larvae. We will show that exposing mosquito larvae to specific RNA molecules can produce fit sterile males adult mosquitoes that can crash mosquito populations in large cage trials