Identifying Unintentional Effects Of Medication Using Statistical Genetics Analyses Of Large-scale Genetic And Genomic Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,441.00
Summary
An increasing number of studies have highlighted unknown adverse effects of medication, for example, use of statins to lower cholesterol with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The gold standard approach to confirm these effects is randomised control trials, which may not always be feasible or ethical, and are very expensive. This project aims to apply innovative statistical genetics approaches to (genetic and genomic) 'big-data' to predict unknown effects of commonly prescribed medications.
Better Statistical Methods To Discover Host Genetic Factors In Symptom Response To SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,137.00
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has infected >5 million people worldwide. While the majority of infected individuals recover within a few weeks of infection, others develop severe forms, that in some cases prove fatal. To date, the causes of differences in symptom response are unknown. In this proposal, we seek to discover genetic factors that can contribute to explaining these differences. Our findings have the potential to inform the design and analysis of clinical trials for vaccines and treatments.
New Therapeutic Approaches For Genetic Skeletal Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$961,150.00
Summary
Genetic skeletal disorders are a significant disease burden with limited therapeutic options. We will use mouse models of cartilage and bone disorders and human induced pluripotent stem cell derived bone and cartilage 'disease in a dish' models to test repurposed FDA-approved drugs and new drug candidates as novel therapeutic strategies.
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a devastating consequence of a number of heart diseases. Underlying causes include inherited heart muscle problems (cardiomyopathies), with no cause found in 40%. Our study will investigate the role of 'concealed cardiomyopathy' cases, i.e. those with a SCD event with no evidence of heart disease, but carry errors in heart genes. Our findings will translate rapidly into more targeted clinical and genetic evaluation of families with the ultimate goal to prevent SCD.
ARX- A Hub Gene For A Common Biological Pathway In Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$707,974.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with no cure. I have identified that some people with schizophrenia show variations to a gene called ARX. This project will use preclinical mouse models to explore how variations to the Arx gene affect brain molecules, networks of cells and behavioural outcomes. This biological pathway will provide the framework for the identification of new molecules to target therapeutically to modify the biological course of schizophrenia and improve outcomes.
Developing An In Vitro Model Of A Human Blastocyst
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$890,062.00
Summary
Using novel cellular and molecular technologies we propose to develop an artificial model of an early human blastocyst. This will allow us to study the first initial steps in human development without the use of real embryos. Such a model will not only help us decipher the first steps in human development, but we anticipate it will be essential to study how gene mutations and the environment affect this initial step in human development.
Vaccine To Prevent Influenza Virus And Bacterial Super-infection.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$707,717.00
Summary
Influenza viruses have the ability to pre-dispose infected hosts toward secondary bacterial complications. The mortality of viral infections that are complicated by a concurrent, or subsequent, bacterial infection (known as a super-infection), is often greater than that of either the virus or the bacteria alone. We will develop a novel multi-pathogen vaccine candidate against the major upper respiratory tract pathogens - Influenza A and Streptococcus pyogenes to prevent super-infections.
Growth Factor Directed Developmental And Pathological Lymphangiogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,048,507.00
Summary
The formation of new lymphatic vessels occurs in normal development and in diseased tissues in cancer and cardiovascular disease. We have developed an understanding of how lymphatics form in development but we understand far less about how they form in disease. This project will apply multidisciplinary approaches, including genetics and computational biology, to compare how lymphatics form in development and disease. We hope to uncover new ways to manipulate this process for therapeutic gain.
Relaxin Receptor Structural Determination To Aid Therapeutic Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,249,114.00
Summary
The receptor for the peptide hormone relaxin, RXFP1, is being targeted by numerous drug companies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, the lack of molecular detail of how relaxin binds and activates RXFP1 is hindering new drug development. We will determine the structure of the complex of relaxin bound to RXFP1 and the mechanism by which this activates cells. The knowledge gained will aid in the design of new drugs targeting RXFP1 for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Harnessing The Benefits Of Autonomous Vehicles For Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$738,596.00
Summary
The arrival of autonomous vehicles (AVs) will have huge implications for health behaviours, including physical activity and diet. It is critical that appropriate planning processes are undertaken as early as possible to prevent cities of the future being designed around AVs rather than people, thereby losing the potential for this new technology to be harnessed as a means of enhancing health. This project will facilitate the inclusion of health considerations in AV implementation processes.