Dental caries (tooth decay) is initiated by demineralisation of tooth hard tissue by organic acids produced by dental plaque bacteria from dietary sugars. The disease is a major public health problem and has an estimated economic burden in Australia of over $1 billion p.a. being higher than that for any other dietary-related disease. We have discovered and patented a novel amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate that is stabilised by phosphopeptides from the bovine milk protein casein. These comple ....Dental caries (tooth decay) is initiated by demineralisation of tooth hard tissue by organic acids produced by dental plaque bacteria from dietary sugars. The disease is a major public health problem and has an estimated economic burden in Australia of over $1 billion p.a. being higher than that for any other dietary-related disease. We have discovered and patented a novel amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate that is stabilised by phosphopeptides from the bovine milk protein casein. These complexes, designated CPP-ACFP, have the potential to provide superior clinical efficacy in preventing dental caries and treating and repairing early stages of disease. The aims of this project therefore are (i) to develop topical formulations of CPP-ACFP for application to teeth to repair early stages of decay and (ii) to characterise the three-dimensional structure of the CPP-ACFP complexes. The significance of this work is that a superior and novel treatment for dental caries may be developed as well as providing insight into the structure of organically-stabilised amorphous calcium phosphate and its role in biomineralisation processes.Read moreRead less
Determination Of Diagnostic Molecular Profiles For Intraduct Lesions Of The Breast.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$308,400.00
Summary
Breast cancer originates in cells within breast ducts. The introduction of Breast Screening for breast cancer has led to a dramatic increase in the diagnosis of breast cancer which is confined to these ducts and has not spread to surrounding tissue. This is known as 'ductal carcinoma in situ' or DCIS. It is evident that DCIS is variable in its tendency to give rise to more advanced breast cancer. However, currently our ability to predict the potential agressiveness of a particular DCIS is limite ....Breast cancer originates in cells within breast ducts. The introduction of Breast Screening for breast cancer has led to a dramatic increase in the diagnosis of breast cancer which is confined to these ducts and has not spread to surrounding tissue. This is known as 'ductal carcinoma in situ' or DCIS. It is evident that DCIS is variable in its tendency to give rise to more advanced breast cancer. However, currently our ability to predict the potential agressiveness of a particular DCIS is limited. In this research we are proposing to develop new methods for evaluation of DCIS that will more accurately predict clinical behaviour. An important adjunct is to ensure that these methods can be practically applied in a routine diagnostic setting. Achievement of the aims of this project will assist treatment planning for patients diagnosed with DCIS. It will also provide important information about breast cancers diagnosed as a consequence of breast screening.Read moreRead less
A New Virus Causing Acute Gastroenteritis In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,374.00
Summary
Diarrhoea is very common, especially in children but a cause is often not found. Believing there must be undiscovered viruses responsible, we developed a new method to look for them, and discovered one, which we have named adelavirus, in 17% of children with diarrhoea presenting to the WCH, Adelaide, over a 3 month period. 55% were hospitalised. This project proposes to investigate how widespread adelavirus infection is in the community and investigate how a vaccine might be developed.
Trichomonas Vaginalis: Prevalence In An Urban Indigenous Population And Validation Of New Assays
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,880.00
Summary
The infection called trichomonas is the commonest sexually transmitted infection (STI) world-wide. It is caused by a parasite and is particularly common amongst disadvantaged, poor communities. It is important to diagnose and treat (readily available treatments exist) this infection because it is linked with early birth in pregnant women and increases the spread of HIV-AIDS virus. The diagnosis has not changed for decades until recently, when a new more sensitive test became available.Wehave ada ....The infection called trichomonas is the commonest sexually transmitted infection (STI) world-wide. It is caused by a parasite and is particularly common amongst disadvantaged, poor communities. It is important to diagnose and treat (readily available treatments exist) this infection because it is linked with early birth in pregnant women and increases the spread of HIV-AIDS virus. The diagnosis has not changed for decades until recently, when a new more sensitive test became available.Wehave adapted it to work on self-collected specimens such as in-out tampons or urines. Proof that this new diagnostic tool is better, is needed in Australia in high-risk groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities where other STIs have already been shown to be at high rates. How this parasite causes disease in humans is poorly studied. We plan to test this new diagnostic method and compare it to traditional tests in a high-risk population and to ultimately study how the parasite causes disease.Read moreRead less
Genetic And Environmental Factors In Invasive Cervical Cancer: A Twin Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$769,637.00
Summary
Cervical cancer (neck of womb) is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Most women clear this very common virus. However persistent HPV infection can cause abnormal changes to cervical cells as found on Pap smears. Genetic factors may determine why such women ultimately develop cancer. A way to evaluate environmental from genetic effects is to study twins. If the risk is greater in indentical twins as compared to nonidentical it is more like to be due to genetics.