Molecular Determinants Of Susceptibility And Progression In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,006,551.00
Summary
Breast cancer is heterogeneous, making management a challenge. High-grade cancers including the ‘basal’ type are aggressive, often found in young women and have a propensity for distant spread. They are also associated with a BRCA1 gene mutation. We will study mechanisms that predispose some women to develop breast cancer, the process that allows cancers to grow at distant sites such as the brain and lungs, and how DNA repair proteins are implicated. This will allow development of new diagnostic ....Breast cancer is heterogeneous, making management a challenge. High-grade cancers including the ‘basal’ type are aggressive, often found in young women and have a propensity for distant spread. They are also associated with a BRCA1 gene mutation. We will study mechanisms that predispose some women to develop breast cancer, the process that allows cancers to grow at distant sites such as the brain and lungs, and how DNA repair proteins are implicated. This will allow development of new diagnostic tools and treatments.Read moreRead less
Linking Lifestyle And Molecular Biology To Inform Precision Public Health For Major Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,487,111.00
Summary
The Program of research seeks to increase our understanding of cancer risk. We will use our large collections of population and family-based datasets to conduct innovative analyses, improving our understanding of the roles that genetic, epigenetic and lifestyle factors play in our risk of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. This information should allow us to better predict a person’s cancer risk, enabling public health interventions, such as screening, to be delivered more effectively and e ....The Program of research seeks to increase our understanding of cancer risk. We will use our large collections of population and family-based datasets to conduct innovative analyses, improving our understanding of the roles that genetic, epigenetic and lifestyle factors play in our risk of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. This information should allow us to better predict a person’s cancer risk, enabling public health interventions, such as screening, to be delivered more effectively and economically to those most at risk.Read moreRead less
This Program studies the mechanisms that control blood cell formation and how abnormalities play a role in leukaemia, a significant health problem worldwide. Despite some improvements, two major problems remain: controlling progression of leukaemia and relapse. The Program tackles these two major issues with the combination of studies of normal blood and leukaemia cell function, drug design and clinical trials ensuring a direct pathway from discovery to patient benefit.
Translating Molecular Determinants Of Susceptibility And Progression In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,510,085.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Despite improvements in prevention, detection and treatment, it is the 2nd most common cause of cancer death in Australian women. Research advances in the last decade have improved our understanding of the pathways from susceptibility to progression and metastasis but this has mostly not yet translated into better outcomes. This program aims to translate some of our fundamental discoveries to improve outcome for affected women and their families.
Understanding The Major Class Of Cell Surface Drug Targets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$7,595,840.00
Summary
G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) form the largest family of receptors and drug targets in living organisms. Currently, the major reason that new drugs fail to reach the clinic is lack of appropriate drug effect (approx. 30%). Thus, we need a better understanding of how GPCRs work and how this relates to disease. Our Program addresses this knowledge gap, using GPCR models that are relevant to treatment of metabolic, inflammatory, cardiovascular and central nervous system disease.
This research program aims to gain a detailed understanding of the organisation of the cell surface at the molecular level. The cell surface is organised into domains with distinct functions. Visualisation of these domains, identifying their important components, and understanding how they form and function will have huge importance for therapeutic strategies aimed at combatting the changes associated with cell transformation in cancer and in other human diseases such as muscular dystrophy.
Translating Membrane Proteins Into Therapeutics; From Bedside To Bench
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$9,466,000.00
Summary
Membrane proteins are the principal gatekeepers for control of cellular response, with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) the largest family of cell surface proteins. These proteins are critically important for pathophysiological control, and are a major target for drug discovery. Nonetheless drug attrition due to lack of clinical efficacy remains high. We are combining cell biology, clinical management and drug discovery science to enable more effective therapeutic translation.
Central to improving the management of patients with cancer is an understanding of the molecular drivers of cancer. Based on our fundamental discoveries about the role of cell growth and perturbed cell signalling as drivers of cancer we will use the integration of molecular and imaging biomarkers with targeted therapies to translate this knowledge into better outcomes for cancer patients with defined molecular drivers of their cancer.