New Strategies In The Treatment And Imaging Of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$934,085.00
Summary
The treatment and diagnosis of brain diseases is one of society’s major challenges. To address these challenges, we need a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in brain disease. We will develop innovative ways in which to probe disease progression, assess efficacy of treatment, and ultimately treat a wide range of brain disorders.
Multiple Sclerosis Therapy: Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Precursor Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,775,225.00
Summary
Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) often have unsatisfactory outcomes. The limited ability of the body to repair damaged nerve tissue highlights a critically important need for MS patients. The long-term goal of our research is to develop a stem cell-based therapy that halts disease progression and repairs damaged nerve tissue. Research efforts will refine techniques to make safe and clinically-compatible cells from human stem cell lines and verify the therapeutic activity of these cells.
Platform FoR European Preparedness Against (Re-)emerging Epidemics- Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,463.00
Summary
Infectious diseases rank high among the threats to human wellbeing and prosperity- globalisation, migration, tourism, intensive farming and changing climate enhance the likelihood of emergence of outbreaks of infectious disease. The optimal response to an emerging infectious disease requires the rapid acquisition of new knowledge. This project ensures that Australia can contribute to globally coordinated research that will meet the research challenge associated with any new pandemic infection.
Dengue is a viral infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical regions of the world, including in northern Australia. For doctors who treat dengue patients, a major unmet need is the ability to predict which patients will develop severe complications and need highly specialized supportive care. This proposal will seek to address this unmet need by examining whether markers of human genetic variation can be used to predict those patients at risk of severe dengue.
Establishing The Physiological And Sleep Disruption Characteristics Of Wind Farm Versus Traffic Noise Disturbances In Sleep
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,357,652.00
Summary
Good sleep is essential for normal daytime functioning and health. Wind farm noise includes audible and unusually low frequency sound components, including infrasound, that could potentially disturb sleep through chronic sleep disruption and/or insomnia. This project will, for the first time, directly evaluate the sleep and physiological disturbance characteristics of wind farm noise compared to traffic noise reproduced in a specialised and carefully controlled laboratory environment.
An Integrated Analysis Of Gene Expression And Chromosome Copy Number In Malignant Mesothelioma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,697.00
Summary
Mesothelioma is an aggressive, asbestos related cancer which causes more than 20,000 deaths worldwide per annum. Mesothelioma is characterised by a long latency between exposure to asbestos and development of the disease, estimated to be between 20 and 40 years. As such, the peak number of cases of mesothelioma is not expected in Australia until 2010, as asbestos use reached its peak in the 1970-80's. In 2010, deaths from mesothelioma will be more common than ovarian cancer and melanoma. This st ....Mesothelioma is an aggressive, asbestos related cancer which causes more than 20,000 deaths worldwide per annum. Mesothelioma is characterised by a long latency between exposure to asbestos and development of the disease, estimated to be between 20 and 40 years. As such, the peak number of cases of mesothelioma is not expected in Australia until 2010, as asbestos use reached its peak in the 1970-80's. In 2010, deaths from mesothelioma will be more common than ovarian cancer and melanoma. This study aims to explore the molecular defects that are involved in initiation and progression of mesothelioma. Using array comparative genomic hybridisation, a technique which allows comparison of the DNA of normal cells with that of cancer cells, we will classify chromosomal changes in the cancer cell and identify candidate genes which are involved in mesothelioma development.Read moreRead less
COMPARE:Collaborative Management Platform For Detection And Analyses Of (Re-) Emerging And Foodborne Outbreaks In Europe
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,959.00
Summary
COMPARE a large EU project intends to speed up the detection of, and response to disease outbreaks among humans and animals worldwide, through the use of new genome technology and disease-specific information. The aim is to reduce the impact and cost of disease outbreaks. This project allows Australian researchers to participate in this system of detecting and investigating foodborne disease outbreaks that cross international borders.
Discovering Novel Molecules That Regulate Axonal Degeneration.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$588,622.00
Summary
The axon is the primary signaling component of every neuron and is essential for normal function. Axonal degeneration is a key early pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. We lack a basic understanding of molecules that regulate this process. Such knowledge is essential for the development of treatments and therapies for dementia and the preservation of healthy ageing. I aim to discover the molecules that regulate axonal degeneration and study their function.
Improving Health Outcomes In The Tropical North: A Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,997,916.00
Summary
Improving Health Outcomes in the Tropical North will strengthen partnerships with research institutions in the NT, Qld, WA, NSW, Vic and SA, by undertaking a research agenda that will help close the gap in Indigenous health disadvantage, protect the north from emerging infectious threats and engage regional neighbours. We will establish a northern Australian network that incorporates Indigenous engagement, mentoring and knowledge translation, and facilitates collaboration with southern partners.
Hendra virus (HeV) cause a disease transmitted from bats to horses which in turn infect humans and other horses. There are no drugs or vaccines for HeV. Since humans are infected by inhalation, a vaccine that can generate antibody in the lung and protect from infection will be ideal. We have found that a natural sugar called mannan used with virus proteins and administered via the nostrils to generate such responses. In this project we will prepare this vaccine and use it in a mouse model of HeV ....Hendra virus (HeV) cause a disease transmitted from bats to horses which in turn infect humans and other horses. There are no drugs or vaccines for HeV. Since humans are infected by inhalation, a vaccine that can generate antibody in the lung and protect from infection will be ideal. We have found that a natural sugar called mannan used with virus proteins and administered via the nostrils to generate such responses. In this project we will prepare this vaccine and use it in a mouse model of HeV infection to see if it can protect the mice.Read moreRead less