A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Enhanced Parenting Capacity To Improve Developmental Outcomes In Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,045,141.00
Summary
In Australia there are 2, 600 very preterm survivors each year. 50% will have education/behavioural difficulties and 10% major disability. We aim to optimise the development of infants born very preterm through a tailored Positive Parenting Program. We predict reductions in child behavioural and emotional problems at 2 years corrected age.
Understanding HIV Resistance To Entry Inhibitors To Advance The Development Of Novel Antivirals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$877,585.00
Summary
We cannot afford to be complacent in the search for improved anti HIV drugs for 2 principal reasons; First, worldwide a staggering 66% of infected individuals who need treatment are still unable to access therapy; and Second, the main reason why most treated patients are now living longer and more healthy lives is because we have never stopped developing newer therapies to provide options for patients. In this study we will develop and test newer drugs that block HIV infection of cells.
Molecular Basis For The Efficient Processing Of Antigens Taken Up By Clec9A, A DAMP Receptor On Dendritic Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,302,392.00
Summary
Dendritic cells (DC) of the immune system utilise specific receptors to sense danger signals from their environment. We identified a DC danger receptor, Clec9A, which recognizes and induces immunity to “dangerous” dead cells eg. infected cells or killed tumour cells. We will investigate how DC use Clec9A to process “dangerous” dead cells, and the factors that control the potency of this immune response. This will enable us to develop novel immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer.
Enhancing Vaccine Efficacy By Harnessing Dendritic Cell Receptors And Their Unique Properties
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,519.00
Summary
Potent vaccination might be achieved by using monoclonal antibodies as magic bullets to target vaccines to special cells in the body. We show that targeting these special cells by using monoclonal antibodies that recognise Clec9A is effective, perhaps because it brings several different immune cells together so that they orchestrate very efficient immune responses. This application investigates how targeting Clec9A allows strong vaccination so that we can apply this to new generation vaccines.
The Regulatory Role Of Clec12A In Antigen Presentation And Inflammatory Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,381,077.00
Summary
The immune system maintains a balance between initiating immune responses to infections and suppressing immune responses in health. We have identified, on the surface of specialised immune cells, a protein that is critical for regulating immune responses and dampening down inflammation. This proposal aims to determine how this protein functions in health and under inflammatory conditions, and to develop approaches based on its molecular interactions to reduce inflammatory disease.
Molecular Characterisation Of The Dendritic Cell Receptor Clec9a And Its Ligand Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,784.00
Summary
The immune system senses danger from infectious diseases, damaged and dead cells. We identified a danger receptor, Clec9A, on a specialised cell type of the immune system in mice and humans. Clec9A recognizes and induces immunity to dangerous dead cells. Delivering vaccines to Clec9A improves vaccine responses. We will investigate how Clec9A recognises and reacts to danger, and how we can mimic this recognition to improve vaccine design.
The neuronal synapse is very tightly regulated by proteins that control both the timing and the amount of neurotransmitter release and neuronal stimulation. Defects in this synaptic signal are linked to diseases including epilepsy, autism and dementia. In this study we will determine the molecular details of how proteins called SNAREs control neurotransmission in the human brain.
A Nanomedicine Strategy For Detecting And Modulating Protease Activity In Vivo
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,534.00
Summary
Protease enzymes are vitally important for normal bodily function but can play a deleterious role in many diseases such as cancer, aging diseases and eye diseases. The proposed research will provide a nanomedicine solution to the detection and therapeutic control of protease activity in vivo using nanoporous optical devices that are benign to the body. This general strategy for will be demonstrated in eyes with a view to detection and treating the eye disease uveitis.
A Mechanotransduction Apparatus To Coordinate Epithelial Collective Cell Migration.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$994,596.00
Summary
Epithelial cells migrate as physically coherent collective groups, which is necessary for normal development and is disrupted as cancers progress to become invasive and spread. Collective migration requires communication so that the behaviour of individual cells is properly coordinated. In this project we investigate how the transmission of physical force between cells allows them to communicate; and test how its disruption contributes to cancer invasion.
Var Gene Diversity And Naturally Acquired Immunity To Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,664.00
Summary
In areas where malaria is common, people develop natural immunity to the disease albeit very slowly due to the many parasite strains that circulate. The project will use protein microarrays to investigate the patterns by which antibodies are acquired to the majority of strains. This will reveal how antibodies are acquired with age and which are associated with protection against malaria symptoms. The research aims to identify biomarkers of malaria immunity and may lead to new vaccine candidates.