Role Of Sphingolipid Signalling In Hepatic Insulin Resistance And Its Application In Prediction Of Risk For Type 2 Diabetes And Prediabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,305.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is expected to reach epidemic proportions in the coming decades. Prediabetes is usually unrecognized and constitutes a major public health concern that needs earlier interventions, because the majority of prediabetic subjects proceed to T2D. We have identified an enzyme that plays an important role in insulin signalling. The possibility is that the level or activity of this enzyme is a potential biomarker of the prediabetes state and could be also used as a target
How Do Mutations In Autophagy Receptors Cause FTD And ALS?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,966.00
Summary
As cells age the "garbage disposal" process within cells slows down, becoming less functional. In inherited forms of dementia the genes involved often code for damaged proteins that "clog up" the disposal system or directly affect the “garbage men”. These defective garbage men genes include SQSTM1/p62, OPTN, VCP and UBQLN2. We will determine how these defective genes lead to build up of garbage in neuronal cells and how leads to disease.
Neuronal Membranes And Connections In Dementia: Targets For Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,144.00
Summary
This research aims to understand why some people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) progress to dementia, whilst others do not. The fact that some people’s cognitive abilities can improve provides an opportunity to study the mechanisms that protect their brain cells from the degeneration associated with dementia. Understanding the cellular changes will lead to therapies that can be tested in the lab for individuals.