Aberrant Mesenchymal-epithelial Transition: A Pathogenic Mechanism In Tissue Maintenance And Differentiation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,299.00
Summary
The causative genetic factors associated with aberrant changes of cellular properties are identified by analysing the profile and the control mechanism of gene expression. Specifically,this project will reveal how the transition of different patterns of tissue organization may be manifested in birth defects and malignant diseases.
The intestinal lining is continuously renewed by specialised cells called intestinal stem cells. Stem cells throughout the body are regulated by nearby connective tissues. But, the identity of these supportive cells in the gut are unknown. We test whether a discrete population of connective tissue cells in the gut support intestinal stem cells. This project will identify new cellular therapies and targets to promote intestinal repair and manage intestinal cancer.
Genetic Fate Mapping Of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Origins And Investigating Their Contribution To Developmental Haematopoiesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,525.00
Summary
Mesenchymal stem cells are a population of cells that reside in various organs in the body and are thought to contribute to tissue repair. However little is known about the developmental origins and identity of these cells. I will investigate where these cells originate from, their molecular identity and how they relate to blood development. These findings will help in developing protocols to manipulate these cells to repair damaged organs. This study will also inform current attempts to generat ....Mesenchymal stem cells are a population of cells that reside in various organs in the body and are thought to contribute to tissue repair. However little is known about the developmental origins and identity of these cells. I will investigate where these cells originate from, their molecular identity and how they relate to blood development. These findings will help in developing protocols to manipulate these cells to repair damaged organs. This study will also inform current attempts to generate blood stem cells.Read moreRead less
Stem And Progenitor Cell Contribution To Skin Wounds And Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
Skin wounds represent a major health and economic burden. Although skin stem cells have been used routinely for the treatment of wounds, they cannot reconstitute a fully functional skin given the complexity and the many cell types usually involved in wound healing. In this project, we intend to evaluate the role of different cell populations on modulating skin wound healing to produce more regeneration and less scaring.
Dental diseases affecting the gums (periodontal diseases) are extremely prevalent in our society. The effects of periodontal disease can be particularly severe as loss of support for the teeth leads to loose teeth and severely compromised chewing function. If left untreated, the associated loss of function may necessitate extraction of the teeth. We have recently identified cells residing in the periodontal ligament which may be adult stem cells. This project will further characterize these cell ....Dental diseases affecting the gums (periodontal diseases) are extremely prevalent in our society. The effects of periodontal disease can be particularly severe as loss of support for the teeth leads to loose teeth and severely compromised chewing function. If left untreated, the associated loss of function may necessitate extraction of the teeth. We have recently identified cells residing in the periodontal ligament which may be adult stem cells. This project will further characterize these cells and explore whether they can be used to restore periodontal tissues damaged by periodontal disease.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Angiopoietin-1 In The Self-renewal And Metastasis Of Prostate Cancer Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,742.00
Summary
Bone metastasis occurs in more than 80% of cases of advanced prostate cancer (PCa), and is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in PCa patients. Understanding why PCa cells preferentially metastasize to bone may lead to the the development of novel therapy for inhibiting PCa metastasis. This project will study how the bone cell-secreted protein angiopoietin-1 promotes the metastasis of PCa cells to bone and whether inactivation of this protein can inhibit PCa bone metastasis.
Role Of Lamin A-C In Osteoblastogenesis And Age-related Bone Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$475,515.00
Summary
Osteoporosis prevalence in Australia has increased, especially in the older population. Patients with accelerated aging (Hutchinson Gilford) suffer from severe osteoporosis. A mutation in lamin A-C was identified as the cause of this disease. Therefore it could be the link between aging and bone loss. We will identify the role of lamin in bone biology. We will generate a new understanding of the connection between aging and bone loss and a new potential therapeutic target for senile osteoporosis
Hematopoietic Transplants From Autologous Pluripotent Cell Sources
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
This proposal investigates the utility of two types of patient-derived stem cells for transplantation into blood. These are induced pluripotent stem cells that are reprogrammed from specialized tissues such as skin cells, and stem cells derived using the genetic material of oocytes or sperm only ( one-parent embryos). Using the mouse, we are looking at the ability of these cells to form normal blood lineages after transplantation, and to repair blood in a mouse model for beta-thalassemia.
The Role Of Ap2a2 In Self-renewal Of Haematopoietic And Leukemic Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$579,171.00
Summary
The daily replenishment of the blood system is dependent on the blood stem cell. A unique property of these stem cells is self-renewal where the stem cell function is preserved, whilst other daughter cells continue to divide. Our research investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate stem cell self-renewal. This work has potential clinical application on at least two levels: expansion of stem cells for transplantation, and for attacking abnormal cancer cell self-renewal pathways.