Early stress experiences and stress resilience in pigs. Animal stress has substantial implications on animal productivity, health and welfare of farm animals and thus farm profitability. This project aims to examine the stress resilience in pigs. Modern pig farming is a major source of food, providing substantial nutritional, social and economic benefits in Australia and worldwide. Animal welfare is of increasing concern to the public, consumers and pork producers, and stress vulnerability is an ....Early stress experiences and stress resilience in pigs. Animal stress has substantial implications on animal productivity, health and welfare of farm animals and thus farm profitability. This project aims to examine the stress resilience in pigs. Modern pig farming is a major source of food, providing substantial nutritional, social and economic benefits in Australia and worldwide. Animal welfare is of increasing concern to the public, consumers and pork producers, and stress vulnerability is an animal health and production problem in the life of the commercial pig. This project will generate new knowledge on early life management to endow stress resilience in pigs, with expected benefits for animal welfare, farm productivity and profitability.Read moreRead less
Use of quinone adducted peptides in the regulation of fertility. This project describes a novel strategy for the non-surgical induction of sterility in male and female mammals with applications in the fields of biotechnology, veterinary medicine and the humane control of pest animal species. The approach is dependent upon the known sensitivity of the germ line to oxidative stress. The strategy rests upon the demonstration that quinone-adducted peptides will selectively bind to non-renewable cel ....Use of quinone adducted peptides in the regulation of fertility. This project describes a novel strategy for the non-surgical induction of sterility in male and female mammals with applications in the fields of biotechnology, veterinary medicine and the humane control of pest animal species. The approach is dependent upon the known sensitivity of the germ line to oxidative stress. The strategy rests upon the demonstration that quinone-adducted peptides will selectively bind to non-renewable cell types in the ovary and testis and redox cycle at the cell surface generating a highly localised state of oxidative stress. This stress will then recapitulate the impact of radiation on reproductive tissues by selectively compromising the viability of the germ line, inducing a state of sterility.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of Dysfunction Of SIGMAR1 In Transgenic Mouse Models, A Novel Gene Implicated In Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$492,119.00
Summary
At present, there are no effective therapies for frontotemporal dementia or motor neuron disease. We have identified the SIGMAR1 gene as having a crucial role for these diseases. More importantly, there are therapeutically relevant small molecule drugs that are known to modulate the activity of this gene. We aim to determine the efficacy of pharmacological modulation of Sigma-1 receptor activity in mouse models of dementia.
A National Resource For Mouse Models Of Mesothelioma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,643.00
Summary
Mouse models of mesothelioma have led to a greater understanding of the disease and the identification of potential drug therapies some of these have now been translated into clinical trials. In the existing models, mesothelioma cells that have been grown in the laboratory are transplanted into animals by injecting the cells under the skin. Different cell lines with different properties are used in different experimental protocols. This application will fund the establishment of a central resour ....Mouse models of mesothelioma have led to a greater understanding of the disease and the identification of potential drug therapies some of these have now been translated into clinical trials. In the existing models, mesothelioma cells that have been grown in the laboratory are transplanted into animals by injecting the cells under the skin. Different cell lines with different properties are used in different experimental protocols. This application will fund the establishment of a central resource to maintain and distribute these cell lines. In addition, we describe a new transgenic mouse model in which mesotheliomas are rapidly induced in the peritoneal cavity after exposure to asbestos, recreating the natural tumour development much more accurately. These mice have been engineered to express the cancer causing protein of a monkey virus (SV40 large T antigen) in their mesothelial cells because it has been suggested that the virus has a role in the development of mesothelioma. This application also seeks funding to use the MexTAg mice to test the usefulness of different therapies for the prevention or treatment of mesothelioma. These animals give us the ability to investigate the disease in a more realistic environment than previous models. In parallel collaborative studies with other groups investigating different aspects of the biology of this cancer, we plan to analyze the earliest changes in the development of the disease and search for early markers using proteomics and gene expression studies. We anticipate that this model will generate information more directly relevant to understanding the human disease and will provide essential experimental data for clinical trials.Read moreRead less
Development Of AD214 A Novel Anti-fibrotic Treatment For Advanced Age Related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,994.00
Summary
Age related macular degeneration remains the leading cause of blindness in this and other industrialised countries. Although treatment is available for an advanced form of the disease, many do not respond, or lose significant amounts of vision with long term treatment. This proposal will provide critical data for commericalizing a novel therapy called an i-body (AD214), that reduces vision loss in this disease by blocking the formation of scarring with reduced need for injections.
Developing Novel Preclinical Models For Neurodevelopmental Disorders - From Bedside To Bench
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,714,215.00
Summary
I will use the knowledge gained from our studies of progressive brain structural and cognitive changes in neuropsychiatric disorders (esp. psychosis and schizophrenia), to develop novel animal models of brain development, identify the impact of insults (e.g. viral infection) at different stages of development, and identify new treatments and optimal timing of interventions to prevent or ameliorate brain changes and cognitive deficits.
Cannabidiol (CBD): A Novel Therapeutic For Alzheimer's Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$775,005.00
Summary
Current drugs do not stop or reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Also, brains of AD patients show a number of biological changes and effective drugs should target those together. Cannabidiol (CBD) has such abilities when tested in AD cell models. We found that CBD can also prevent and reverse memory deficits in AD mice. We propose to provide convincing preclinical evidence for the benefits of CBD for human AD therapy and to define mechanisms involved.
We need to think laterally to find effective treatments for people with dementia. Using relevant animal models and cutting-edge technology, my research investigates gene-environment interactions. In particular, my group is studying the pathophysiology of Huntington’s disease, a devastating progressive disorder with no current cure. By integrating my unique wide-ranging expertise and my extensive network of collaborators, I aim to explore mechanisms and to discover novel therapeutic strategies.
Pathogenic Mechanisms Common To All Subtypes Of Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,294.00
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegerative disease of unknown cause and without effective treatment. While there are a number of clinical and pathological subtypes of FTD all have abnormal protein deposition. In this project we will investigate using brain tissue from patients with FTD, transgenic mice and culture models the cellular mechanisms which underly the protein depsotion. In addition, we will look at the brain's response to injury and investigate modulation of this response.