Deadly Commute - Targeting The Trafficking Mechanisms That Licence Inflammatory Cell Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,544.00
Summary
MLKL is a protein naturally found inside cells. MLKL is activated by inflammation. Once activated, MLKL relocates to the outer periphery of cells and kills them. Gut cells are especially vulnerable to death-by-MLKL and this problem causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Using cutting edge microscopy, we have discovered how MLKL moves to the periphery of cells prior to killing them. We will test if blocking this movement of MLKL to the cell periphery stops gut death and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Vitamin D, Bone Loss, Fracture And Mortality Outcome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,736.00
Summary
Vitamin D most commonly from sunlight exposure is considered an important determinant of health, including the liability to falls and fractures; not only in the elderly but in adulthood in general. This study aims to distinguish if low vitamin D levels cause adverse health outcomes or relate to ill health, limited sunlight exposure and nutritional change. Only if low vitamin D level is causative of ill health does replacement make good public health sense.
Improving Treatment Strategies For Chronic Alphaviral Arthritic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,624.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus and Ross River virus cause epidemics of acute and chronic arthritic disease in humans, which is often poorly managed with current treatments. This grant seeks to understand the mechanisms that give rise to disease in order to identify improved treatment strategies. Both the persistence of viral replication in joint tissues and unnecessary inflammatory responses appear to be important factors driving chronic disease.
GABA(B) Receptor Modulation Of Gastrointestinal Function In Health And Disease By Alpha-Conotoxins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$689,050.00
Summary
Chronic visceral pain is a common and debilitating condition arising from numerous diseases that affect our internal organs. There is a desperate need for more information about the mechanisms responsible for signalling chronic visceral pain to provide therapies and potentially find a cure for it. Our research focuses on ?-conotoxins (small peptides from marine cone snail venom) as novel potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic visceral pain.
The First Placebo-controlled Trial Of Opioid Analgesics For Acute Spinal Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,024,067.00
Summary
Despite the widespread and increasing use of opioid analgesics, there is a complete lack of evidence on their efficacy in acute spinal pain. Concerns are also being raised because of the risks of potentially serious adverse events associated with opioid analgesics. In this world-first study, we will establish whether using opioid analgesics can effective reduce pain in people with acute spinal pain and provide rigorous evidence to inform the safe and appropriate use of this medicine.
Prevention Of Beta Cell Destruction In Type 1 Diabetes By Immunotherapy Using Parasite-derived Molecules.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$518,443.00
Summary
To prevent type 1 diabetes, compounds that avert the autoimmune destruction of beta cells are needed. We are exploiting the potential of ñworm therapyî by mimicking the beneficial immune effects of parasite worm infection. We have identified the molecules that the parasite uses to influence host immune responses. We have demonstrated that these novel immune-modulatory worm molecules prevent diabetes in a mouse model. This offers great potential for the development of therapeutic interventions.