In 2011 there were over 360 million people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes worldwide, who will require insulin treatment. There is an urgent need for insulin analogues that provide effective control of blood glucose to avoid unwanted hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic events. We have developed two novel insulin analogues with unique properties and aim to understand their mechanism of action. This knowledge will present new opportunities for improved insulin mimetics for diabetes treatment.
Conologues: Ultra-fast-acting Therapeutic Insulins Based On Cone Snail Venom Insulin Principles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,082,866.00
Summary
The increasing prevalence of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes demands better treatments. Our Project is based on a fascinating discovery by our international team of CIs of a new type of insulin within marine organisms that could form the basis of a novel diabetes therapeutic. Within our Project we will exploit this discovery to develop a new class of ultra-rapid-acting therapeutic insulins.
Targeting The Insulin And Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptors In Cancer, Diabetes And Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$993,251.00
Summary
Diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease are three major diseases facing Australia. This Project will investigate a common point-of-focus of these diseases, namely the interaction of insulin and the insulin-like growth factors with their receptor molecules on the cell surface. It will use recent breakthrough findings by the Chief Investigators to develop new therapeutic approaches for these diseases that could function by targeting these interactions.
Structural Events In Insulin And IGF Signalling - A Nanodisc Approach To A Problem In Cancer, Diabetes And Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$752,403.00
Summary
Insulin and its insulin-like growth factors play a major role in three major disease states facing ageing Australians—diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. We aim to understand how these proteins send messages into cells via their so-called receptors. We will isolate the receptor molecules from cells and then image them in an advanced electron microscope to produce three-dimensional images. Our findings will have implications for the design of therapeutics targeting the above three diseases.
Muscle Derived Interleukin-6: Signalling Pathways And Biological Roles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,375.00
Summary
Over the past few years work from our research group has identified that the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced by skeletal muscle during contractions. Moreover, we have demonstrated that IL-6 performs entirely novel functions that have major ramifications for diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. We have demonstrated that IL-6 is a potent factor in increasing the breakdown of fatty acids in the human body. We have also demonstrated that IL-6 down-regulates the cytokine tumour nec ....Over the past few years work from our research group has identified that the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced by skeletal muscle during contractions. Moreover, we have demonstrated that IL-6 performs entirely novel functions that have major ramifications for diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. We have demonstrated that IL-6 is a potent factor in increasing the breakdown of fatty acids in the human body. We have also demonstrated that IL-6 down-regulates the cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), which impairs glucose uptake and promotes insulin resistance. The proposed work will extend upon these findings. Discovering that IL-6 produced during exercise contributes to fatty acid utilisation will have profound ramifications for what we know about energy breakdown. If we find that the function of IL-6 produced by muscle is to down-regulate TNF-a and lead to enhanced glucose uptake in type 2 diabetics, it may lead to IL-6 being used as a possible therapeutic aid in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In summary, this project will have major significance for not only our fundamental knowledge of the processes involved in maintaining metabolic homeostasis, but also for our understanding of the major health problem of obesity related diseases.Read moreRead less
Understanding Ligand Binding Within The Insulin-like Growth Factor Family With Direct Application To Cancer Therapeutic Design
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$861,235.00
Summary
Cancer is a devastating disease and there is an imperative to develop new therapeutics. The so-called insulin-like growth factors are molecules that play a key role in the initiation and progression of cancer. Here we seek to understand how these molecules interact with cells and to develop drugs that might block their action.
Novel Regulators Of Glucose Metabolism And Inflammation In Adipose Tissue Of Females
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$282,830.00
Summary
Obesity is a common problem which can lead to development of diabetes and heart disease. One of the major mechanisms by which obesity leads to these diseases involves a defect in the ability of insulin to stimulate uptake of glucose into cells. We have found that excess of the sex hormone testosterone in women can contribute to this defect in tissues. This study will investigate why testosterone causes this defect in females and whether this defect can be prevented using existing drug therapies.