Molecular Determinants Of Risk, Progression And Treatment Response In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,381,820.00
Summary
Melanoma is a major Australian health problem. NSW figures for 2002 show it to be the second most common cancer in men and women. It has a disproportionately heavy impact on productive years of the life of young Australians because it is the commonest cancer in those aged 15-45 years. The investigators are all associated with the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU), the world�s largest clinical service dedicated to the treatment of melanoma, treating >1200 new melanoma patients annually. We have also ....Melanoma is a major Australian health problem. NSW figures for 2002 show it to be the second most common cancer in men and women. It has a disproportionately heavy impact on productive years of the life of young Australians because it is the commonest cancer in those aged 15-45 years. The investigators are all associated with the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU), the world�s largest clinical service dedicated to the treatment of melanoma, treating >1200 new melanoma patients annually. We have also recruited large cohorts of individuals with high susceptibility to melanoma, both familial and population-based, throughout southeastern Australia. We aim to utilise these unique, internationally-recognised resources to develop a scientific basis for 1) improved management of individuals at high risk for development and progression of melanoma, and 2) improved treatment of patients with early and disseminated melanoma. We will base this on consolidation of existing collaborative research into molecular predictors of risk, progression and treatment response in melanoma.Read moreRead less
Molecular Markers Of Phenotype, Therapeutic Responsiveness And Prognosis In Human Cancers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$11,762,117.00
Summary
This proposal aims to identify molecular markers that can be used to classify subtypes of particular cancers according to their prognosis and response to therapy. This will optimise selection of patients for the most appropriate treatment and lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Regulation Of Bone Resorption And Formation In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,596,183.00
Summary
Bone is continually being formed and broken down, and these two processes are critical forthe maintenance of a normal skeleton. These processes are dependent upon communication between the bone building and degrading cells, and the hormones growth factors and cytokines that are present in the circulation or produced in bone. The tightly regulated processes of bone formation and degradation need to remain equal, and are essential for the achievement and maintenance of skeletal strength and form. ....Bone is continually being formed and broken down, and these two processes are critical forthe maintenance of a normal skeleton. These processes are dependent upon communication between the bone building and degrading cells, and the hormones growth factors and cytokines that are present in the circulation or produced in bone. The tightly regulated processes of bone formation and degradation need to remain equal, and are essential for the achievement and maintenance of skeletal strength and form. Osteoporosis results from an excess of bone breakdown over formation, and our Program aims to identify the factors that regulate these processes, and develop new therapies that can modify them. We will also determine what it is about bone cell properties that make some cancers, especially those of breast and prostate, particularly prone to spread to bone.Read moreRead less
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR PATHOGENESIS OF HUMAN LIVER DISEASE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,928,323.00
Summary
n humans, chronic liver diseases cause cirrhosis of the liver in some but not all individuals. This leads to protracted ill-health, complications (fluid retention in the abdomen, confusion, bloodstream infections, kidney failure, liver cancer) resulting in hospitalisation, liver transplantation and premature death. In Australia, cirrhosis is an important cause of death and of years of potential life lost, while liver cancer has recently doubled and is predicted to treble by 2020. The common caus ....n humans, chronic liver diseases cause cirrhosis of the liver in some but not all individuals. This leads to protracted ill-health, complications (fluid retention in the abdomen, confusion, bloodstream infections, kidney failure, liver cancer) resulting in hospitalisation, liver transplantation and premature death. In Australia, cirrhosis is an important cause of death and of years of potential life lost, while liver cancer has recently doubled and is predicted to treble by 2020. The common causes are hepatitis C, fatty liver disorders, alcohol and hepatitis B; when 2 of these are present together, there is a higher risk of cirrhosis. This program aims to unravel the pathological processes which cause cirrhosis at the molecular and cellular levels, in order to understand why some people are at higher risk. These processes could result from genetic predisposition, other constitutional factors (age, gender) or from lifestyle factors (overnutrition, inactivity, alcohol). The 3 chief investigators from Westmead s Millennium Institute and the Centenary Institute of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital are international experts in hepatitis C, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other fatty liver disorders, autoimmune hepatitis, liver transplantation, and scarring processes that lead to cirrhosis of the liver. The new knowledge that will result from these studies will be used to help prevent people developing severe forms of chronic liver disease, and for treating cirrhosis if it has already occurred.Read moreRead less
Molecular Determinants Of Risk, Progression And Treatement Response In Melenoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$12,947,193.00
Summary
Melanoma is a major Australian health problem. It is the third most common cancer in men and women and has a disproportionately heavy impact on productive years of life because it is the common cause of cancer death in younger adults. The investigators are all associated with the Melanoma Institute Australia, incorporating the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU). MIA is the world’s largest clinical service dedicated to the treatment of melanoma, treating >1500 new melanoma patients annually and mainta ....Melanoma is a major Australian health problem. It is the third most common cancer in men and women and has a disproportionately heavy impact on productive years of life because it is the common cause of cancer death in younger adults. The investigators are all associated with the Melanoma Institute Australia, incorporating the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU). MIA is the world’s largest clinical service dedicated to the treatment of melanoma, treating >1500 new melanoma patients annually and maintains a repository of clinical data on melanoma and a large melanoma tissue bank. The Program has also recruited large numbers of people from the community, as well as people with a strong family history of melanoma, in order to study its causes. It aims to utilise these internationally-recognised resources to develop a scientific basis for 1) improved management of individuals at high risk for development and progression of melanoma, and 2) improved treatment of patients with early and disseminated melanoma, in an era of rapid change in the prospects of successfully treating this dangerous cancer. The Program will do this by consolidating and extending its existing collaborative research, supported by NHMRC since 2006.Read moreRead less
Gynaecological, Oesophageal And Skin Cancer In Australia: Developing The Evidence-base
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,079,935.00
Summary
Our Program addresses cancers of the ovary, uterus, oesophagus and skin (both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers). The first three cancers together affect almost 4,000 people and cause more than 2,000 deaths every year while skin cancer affects almost 400,000 Australians each year. Our aims are, first, to understand better how these cancers are caused so that we can try to prevent them in the future; second, to enhance diagnosis of these cancers; and third, to improve the survival and qualit ....Our Program addresses cancers of the ovary, uterus, oesophagus and skin (both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers). The first three cancers together affect almost 4,000 people and cause more than 2,000 deaths every year while skin cancer affects almost 400,000 Australians each year. Our aims are, first, to understand better how these cancers are caused so that we can try to prevent them in the future; second, to enhance diagnosis of these cancers; and third, to improve the survival and quality of life for people who are diagnosed with these cancers in Australia.Read moreRead less
Inflammation and cancer are at the heart of many human diseases. This particularly applies to the major global problem of liver fibrosis and liver cancer affecting almost half a billion of the worlds population. This Program brings together researchers with expertise in basic science and the clinic with the aim of exploring these issues at the cellular and molecular level. The ergistic and combinatorial use of basic and clinical skills gives a high likelihood of discoveries leading to new therap ....Inflammation and cancer are at the heart of many human diseases. This particularly applies to the major global problem of liver fibrosis and liver cancer affecting almost half a billion of the worlds population. This Program brings together researchers with expertise in basic science and the clinic with the aim of exploring these issues at the cellular and molecular level. The ergistic and combinatorial use of basic and clinical skills gives a high likelihood of discoveries leading to new therapies.Read moreRead less
Colorectal Cancer - Molecular Basis To Targeted Therapeutics.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$19,818,386.00
Summary
Cancer of the colon and rectum is the most common form of cancer in Australia. Over 12,000 people are diagnosed each year with colorectal cancer (CRC) and more than one third of people will die of their disease. CRC is caused by mistakes in production of colon cells. Our research aims to discover new ways to detect CRC, develop smart drugs and nanoparticle delivery systems for destroying all types of CRC cells. We will then test our new anti-cancer drugs in clinical trials with CRC patients.
Roles Of Impaired Apoptosis And Differentiation In Tumourigenesis And Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$21,656,910.00
Summary
The ten scientific laboratories in this program have joined forces to investigate two ways in which tumours develop. Both are of particular interest, because they suggest new ways in which cancer might be overcome. Most of our tissues are continually renewed throughout life by production of new cells. Therefore many of the old cells in each tissue must die off to maintain the proper cell numbers. To eliminate cells that are no longer needed or have become damaged, the body has developed a remark ....The ten scientific laboratories in this program have joined forces to investigate two ways in which tumours develop. Both are of particular interest, because they suggest new ways in which cancer might be overcome. Most of our tissues are continually renewed throughout life by production of new cells. Therefore many of the old cells in each tissue must die off to maintain the proper cell numbers. To eliminate cells that are no longer needed or have become damaged, the body has developed a remarkable cell suicide process termed apoptosis. Unfortunately, however, occasionally a random accident to the genes in one of our cells prevents the machinery for apoptosis from being turned on. In that case, the cell will not die when it should and, by continually dividing, it may eventually give rise to a cancer. Since most cancer cells still retain most of the machinery for apoptosis, however, a drug that could switch on this natural cell death machinery would provide a promising new approach to cancer therapy. Identifying and developing such drugs is one major long-term goal of this program. The other focus of our program concerns stem cells. These are rare cells with the remarkable ability to generate an entire tissue. For example, one of our laboratories has identified stem cells that can generate all the cells in the breast. The almost unlimited regenerative capacity of stem cells has a built-in danger. If a stem cell acquires the ability to proliferate excessively, it can go on to form a tumour. Indeed, many cancer researchers now suspect that rare stem cells within a tumour cause its inexorable growth. If tumour growth is maintained by stem cells, it will be essential to develop new forms of therapy that target these rare cancer stem cells rather than merely the bulk of the tumour cells. This is another key long-term goal of our program.Read moreRead less