Serum Mesothelin-related Protein As An Early Marker Of Mesothelioma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,750.00
Summary
The deadly asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma is continuing to kill tens of thousands of individuals per year and its incidence is increasing. It is expected to cost communities hundreds of billions of dollars in compensation. This disease is usually already quite advanced by the time a patients presents to a doctor with symptoms so we have been working on methods of early detection. This project studies a new, exciting method of diagnosis using blood levels of a molecule called 'SMRP'. Late l ....The deadly asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma is continuing to kill tens of thousands of individuals per year and its incidence is increasing. It is expected to cost communities hundreds of billions of dollars in compensation. This disease is usually already quite advanced by the time a patients presents to a doctor with symptoms so we have been working on methods of early detection. This project studies a new, exciting method of diagnosis using blood levels of a molecule called 'SMRP'. Late last year we published a paper in the prestigious journal Lancet showing that SMRP was a good test to help diagnose mesothelioma and this became a lead news item around the world because of widespread concern about this disease. In those studies we found strong clues that this test was very sensitive and could detect mesothelioma a year or so before a patient develops symptoms. In this grant we will evaluate whether this test could be useful for screening asbestos-exposed individuals for early detection of this cancer. We will also study ways of improving the test using laboratory methods. This would provide a foundation for studies aimed at determining if early treatment could improve patient survival.Read moreRead less
Diagnostic Markers For Malignant Mesothelioma And Other Respiratory Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$467,315.00
Summary
The deadly asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma is continuing to kill tens of thousands of individuals per year. We have been working on improving the tests available to detect this cancer and to follow the course of the disease with the aim of reducing patients' anxiety and health-care costs.
Investigatin The Causes Of Failed Efferocytosis In COPD-emphysema With A View To Identifying Novel Theraputic Targets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,558.00
Summary
COPD is a leading cause of death. Smoking is the major cause of COPD and many sufferers are left with permanent damage and need ongoing treatment even after smoking cessation. Current treatments for COPD generally have limited efficacy. The project will identify the reason for the large number of dying cells and defective clearance of these cells that we have identified in the airways in COPD and study novel treatments that we hope will improve the health and well being of those with COPD.
Long-lasting Correction Of The Basic Defect In Cystic Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,500.00
Summary
The airway disease caused by the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF) is not yet preventable. Current treatments can only limit the gradually-increasing lung disease and is costly. Our new gene therapy technique introduces a correcting gene into affected airway cells, and it has already worked in the first tests in mice bred with CF. Airways in mice are used to test whether the effect is reliable, effective, and lasts long enough to be useful. The gene is introduced into the airway using special ....The airway disease caused by the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF) is not yet preventable. Current treatments can only limit the gradually-increasing lung disease and is costly. Our new gene therapy technique introduces a correcting gene into affected airway cells, and it has already worked in the first tests in mice bred with CF. Airways in mice are used to test whether the effect is reliable, effective, and lasts long enough to be useful. The gene is introduced into the airway using special virus delivery-particles, after conditioning the airway to make it receptive to the particles. The method works in normal mice and in CF mice; it gives long lasting gene transfer from a single dose and seems to affect all airway cell types. The gene transfer may also be occurring in airway stem cells, i.e. the mother cells from which grow all the cells of the airway surface. Until now, no-one else has been able to produce prolonged gene transfer in this way, nor arrange gene transfer into stem cells in live airways. There are now a number of things that we must investigate before we could conduct safety and effectiveness trials in larger animals, or consider moving into clinical trials in humans. We need to understand exactly how our conditioning agent works and is it safe; measure how long the gene correction can last actually in our animals; decide if we can we re-dose animals (if needed) without losing effectiveness because of inflammation or immune responses that might occur; and decide how important the airway stem cells are in producing the length of the gene transfer. Because it has been difficult to measure gene correction in CF airways, we will also test new ways we have developed to measure how well the gene correction works in CF airways. The findings of this project will allow us to develop our method to where we can test it in larger animals, to provide a strong, long-lasting gene correction that will be safe for testing in human clinical trials.Read moreRead less
Is MUC1 A Viable Therapeutic Target For Patients With The Asbestos-induced Tumour Malignant Mesothelioma?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,068.00
Summary
The deadly asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma is continuing to kill tens of thousands of people each year. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. We are investigating the use of a specific marker, called MUC1, to improve mesothelioma diagnosis. Improved diagnosis will reduce the time taken to commence treatment. It will also reduce hospital costs and the number of surgical procedures a patients must undergo.
Preventing Complications Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$310,914.00
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a devastating lung disease that affects smokers. Lung complications and complications in other organs occur commonly. This study will examine factors that lead to exacerbations of COPD, and test the effectiveness of early diagnosis of coronary artery disease using CT scans.
Mast Cell Proteases Suppress Respiratory Viral Infections And Alleric Inflammation Of The Airways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$665,532.00
Summary
Severe RSV infection and asthma accounts for poor quality of life in our community and current treatments have limited effects. Although the factors regulating these disorders are poorly understood, mast cells (MCs) may play important roles. We have shown MC protease-6 protects against viral infection. Here we will identify how MC and their factors are involved in the control of severe respiratory infections and allergic disease of the lung, and identify potential new ways to treat these conditi ....Severe RSV infection and asthma accounts for poor quality of life in our community and current treatments have limited effects. Although the factors regulating these disorders are poorly understood, mast cells (MCs) may play important roles. We have shown MC protease-6 protects against viral infection. Here we will identify how MC and their factors are involved in the control of severe respiratory infections and allergic disease of the lung, and identify potential new ways to treat these conditions.Read moreRead less
Targeting MicroRNA (miRNA) As A Unified Therapeutic Approach To The Treatment Of Asthma And Allergic Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$675,030.00
Summary
Approximately 30% of our community suffers from allergic inflammation (asthma/rhinitis/dermatitis) that results in poor quality of life. The factors regulating these disorders are poorly understood and current treatments only target the symptoms and not the cause of disease. MicroRNA control gene expression and are emerging as potential regulators of inflammation. This project will identify the role of microRNA in the regulation of allergic diseases and their potential as new therapeutic targets ....Approximately 30% of our community suffers from allergic inflammation (asthma/rhinitis/dermatitis) that results in poor quality of life. The factors regulating these disorders are poorly understood and current treatments only target the symptoms and not the cause of disease. MicroRNA control gene expression and are emerging as potential regulators of inflammation. This project will identify the role of microRNA in the regulation of allergic diseases and their potential as new therapeutic targets.Read moreRead less
Microvascular And Macrovascular Disease In Snoring And Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Mechanism For Increased Stroke Risk.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$679,744.00
Summary
This project will address the important question of the vascular risk of stroke associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea, by using retinal photography of the eye to directly visualise the vascular changes in the cerebral circulation. Retinal photography may provide a useful clinical tool to help reduce the risk of stroke in patients with snoring and sleep apnoea.
We have discovered that part of a collagen molecule - lamstatin- inhibits growth of lymphatic cells and their communicating networks. Excessive lymphatic growth occurs in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)- a fatal disease which affects young women- and many cancers. We have shown that lamstatin prevents growth of lymph vessels in a skin tumour in mice and we will investigate if it can prevent spread of tumours to other organs which has exciting implications for the treatment of cancer.