Clinical And Public Health Interventions For Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,595.00
Summary
Professor Neal’s research has two main components – the first will identify new drug therapies for the management of diabetes and the second will provide new evidence about ways to improve the healthiness of the food supply in Australia.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for one third of all deaths globally. Most CVD can be prevented by addressing behavioral risk factors, and it is widely accepted that increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains could cut CVD risk and associated costs more than 25%. However, surprisingly little is known about the impact of individual foods and beverages and their components on vascular health, or the mechanisms involved. This is the prime research focus.
Discovering How MicroRNAs And CircRNAs Control Cancer Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
Most cancers arise from epithelial cells, and most deaths from these cancers are due to the transition of the cancer to an invasive form, that can invade tissues and establish secondary cancers (metastases). Our work will focus on understanding how recently discovered gene regulators, called microRNAs and circular RNAs, control changes in cancer cells to allow them to progress to invasive, metastatic forms and use this knowledge to find ways to block the process.
MicroRNA Pathway Control Of Immune Cell Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
The immune system is comprised of many different cell types, each with a specialised function. Many are short-lived and must be continually replenished throughout life. Abnormalities in this process underlie many human diseases, including immunodeficiency, autoimmunity and cancer. My laboratory seeks to understand the molecular pathways that control development of immune cells and to identify the defects that lead to disease.
Innovations In Cancer Imaging And Targeted Radiotherapy To Improve Human Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$926,980.00
Summary
Through a process of discovery, development and investigation we will create medical devices and methods to improve cancer imaging and targeted radiotherapy. Successful completion of this program will directly impact on the treatment and lives of Australian cancer patients in the foreseeable future.This program will substantially build research capacity and productivity within Australia, raise Australia’s profile in cancer research and foster international collaboration.
Understanding The Complexity Of Antigen Presentation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,540.00
Summary
I have developed and established the use of mass spectrometry to identify and quantitate ligands of antigen presenting molecules to understand the breadth of immune responses in a variety of human disease states including autoimmunity, cancer, infection and allergy. By embedding the technology in disease focussed research programs I will define the molecular bases of these diseases and the important immunological targets that will provide new avenues for therapeutic development and vaccines.
Allergies and chronic respiratory diseases are major causes of illness and death in Australia. Worryingly there are still many gaps in knowledge on how best to prevent and manage these diseases. The proposed program will investigate these questions and provide evidence to guide health policy and clinical management. As this program is built on state-of the-art methods and technology, these original Australian findings will be of great importance internationally.