Modulation Of Telomere Length And Subtelomeric DNA Methylation In Response To Oxidative Stress In The Male Germ Line; Implications For Tumorigenesis In The Offspring
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,684.00
Summary
This research project is designed to elucidate how the quality of a father’s spermatozoa can impact upon the health and wellbeing of his children. We hypothesize that factors, such as infertility, heavy smoking or age create a state of oxidative stress in the testes and that this stress influences the genetic structure of spermatozoa in such a way that the incidence of spontaneous mutations and susceptibility-to-cancer are significantly elevated in the offspring.
Prevention Of Placental Oxidative Stress And Inflammation By Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,970.00
Summary
Several pregnancy disorders that result in low birthweight involve aberrant function of the placenta. In this project we will examine one of the key mechanisms underlying placental dysfunction, namely oxidative stress, and determine whether its adverse effects can be limited by supplementation with dietary omega 3 fatty acids. The outcomes of this project will help guide future clinical studies on the possible beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids in pregnancy.
Translating Oocyte Biology Discoveries To New Clinical Practices
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,605.00
Summary
A/Professor Gilchrist is a reproductive biologist studying factors that regulate the intrinsic quality of unfertilised eggs. He has produced and patented the use of unique growth factors produced by the egg that enhance egg quality in women. Bringing together industry and a world-leading clinic, he is developing new forms of hormone-free infertility treatment which he will take to clinical practice over the next 5 years.
EGF Peptide Signalling Improves Oocyte Maturation And Quality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$586,891.00
Summary
Infertility is common and although IVF is widely accepted, the procedure is expensive and is associated with health risks. Using laboratory animals, we have developed significant new insights into mechanisms regulating egg quality. These insights have allowed us to develop a new approach to infertility treatment - crucially, one that eliminates the need for ovarian hormone therapy used in IVF. This project will investigate the basic mechanisms underlying our new approach to enable safe clinical ....Infertility is common and although IVF is widely accepted, the procedure is expensive and is associated with health risks. Using laboratory animals, we have developed significant new insights into mechanisms regulating egg quality. These insights have allowed us to develop a new approach to infertility treatment - crucially, one that eliminates the need for ovarian hormone therapy used in IVF. This project will investigate the basic mechanisms underlying our new approach to enable safe clinical implementation.Read moreRead less
A Novel Procedure For Efficacious Gonadotrophin-free Infertility Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,328.00
Summary
Infertility is common and is associated with health risks and is expensive. Using laboratory animals, we have developed a unique procedure, which has comparable success rates to IVF but crucially, it eliminates the need for ovarian hormone therapy used in IVF. A clinical trial using this method has started in Brussels and in this project we will examine cells from that trial and from animals to investigate the underlying mechanisms to enable safe and rapid clinical implementation.
Macrophage-regulated Tissue Remodelling In Endometrial Receptivity For Embryo Implantation And Pregnancy Success
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,779.00
Summary
Infertility and recurrent miscarriage affect 60-80 million couples globally, including 15% of couples in Australia. Moreover, 1 in 6 pregnancies is affected by pre-eclampsia, low birth weight or preterm labour. Infertility and other pathologies in pregnancy often result from failure of the maternal tissues to adequately support embryo implantation and development of the placenta, leading to insufficient nutritional support of the developing fetus. We have discovered in mice that disruption in th ....Infertility and recurrent miscarriage affect 60-80 million couples globally, including 15% of couples in Australia. Moreover, 1 in 6 pregnancies is affected by pre-eclampsia, low birth weight or preterm labour. Infertility and other pathologies in pregnancy often result from failure of the maternal tissues to adequately support embryo implantation and development of the placenta, leading to insufficient nutritional support of the developing fetus. We have discovered in mice that disruption in the populations of immune cells called macrophages within the uterine endometrial lining can reduce the receptivity of the endometrum to embryo implantation, and can lead to fetal growth retardation and impaired health after birth. The purpose of this project is to delineate the precise functions of macrophages in interacting with other cells in the endometrium to facilitate attachment of the embryo, its invasion into maternal tissues, and its access to an adequate blood supply as the placenta develops during early pregnancy. We will employ state of the art experimental strategies including genetic models to deplete endometrial macrophage populations in mice, and will then study the implications for changes in endometrial tissue structure and function. Furthermore we will investigate the long term consequences of early macrophage perturbations for the fetus and neonate after birth. This study will improve our understanding of how determinants of macrophage function such as infection and inflammatory conditions, male factors, nutrition and stress can impair fertility and compromise optimal pregnancy outcome in humans.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453630
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,692.00
Summary
High-Speed Confocal Microscope Live Cell Recording System. The high-speed confocal microscope live cell recording system we are establishing represents new generation equipment. It allows quality imaging of selected subcellular regions of live cells combined with simultaneous electrophysiological recording at rates and sensitivity hitherto not possible. This equipment provides a window of opportunity for major research advances in that it allows real-time two and three-dimensional imaging of fun ....High-Speed Confocal Microscope Live Cell Recording System. The high-speed confocal microscope live cell recording system we are establishing represents new generation equipment. It allows quality imaging of selected subcellular regions of live cells combined with simultaneous electrophysiological recording at rates and sensitivity hitherto not possible. This equipment provides a window of opportunity for major research advances in that it allows real-time two and three-dimensional imaging of fundamental cellular activities that previously could not be viewed. It will allow major advances in priority health-related research and will provide an ideal research tool to introduce young scientists and students to cutting edge research.Read moreRead less
Dr Gilchrist is a reproductive biologist studying factors that regulate the intrinsic quality of unfertilised eggs. He has developed a new form of hormone-free infertility treatment which he will test in a clinical trial over the next 5 years.