Cell survival and death are controlled by two processes known as apoptosis and autophagy. Apoptosis eliminates damaged cells whereas autophagy gets rid of faulty components in the cell. The Bcl-2 proteins regulate both processes. It is well established that dysfunctional Bcl-2 regulation leads to cancer. In this project, we aim to investigate if deregulated Bcl-2 control of autophagy also has a key role in cancer progression and to obtain a molecular picture of how this control is exerted.
Neuro-feedback For Improved Efficacy Of Retinal Prostheses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$653,655.00
Summary
Bionic eyes offer the possibility to return sight to the blind. Existing retinal implants are effective at delivering basic visual percepts, namely brief spots of light. Our team is now working on building the second generation of bionic eyes that include the ability to both stimulate the visual system (the retina) and record its response. By recording the evoked responses, we can adjust and optimize the stimulation to restore a persistent high spatial resolution sense of vision to the blind.
TAF8 is a small protein that is associated with the general transcriptional apparatus. TAF8 is not an essential part of the general transcriptional machinery, but rather a regulatory molecule that appears to dictate how the machinery is used to express different genes. The absence of TAF8 leads to expression of genes controlling cell death. Since the avoidence of cell death is essential to the development of cancer these results will lead to a better understanding of how cancer develops.
Virus Vaccines That Ensure Preparedness Against Future Public Health Emergencies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$862,061.00
Summary
In this proposal, we will utilize novel technology we have developed (the molecular clamp) to generate candidate subunit vaccines and therapeutic antibody treatments against four highly pathogenic viruses identified by the World Health Organization as requiring urgent R&D to prepare for future epidemics; Ebola virus, Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus, Nipah virus and Lassa fever virus. Resulting vaccines are expected to provide advantages including safety, efficacy, and thermal stability.
Structural Studies On The Immune Effector Perforin: Developing Mechanism-based Inhibitors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,116,594.00
Summary
Perforin is an essential weapon deployed by the human immune cells in order to destroy virally infected or cancerous cells. Despite this key role, unwanted or excessive perforin function can result in disease and can severely impact on successful treatment of leukaemia through bone marrow transplantation. This application aims to understand the molecular details of perforin function, and to apply this knowledge to develop perforin inhibitors.
Novel Role Of Innate Immune DNA Sensors In Promoting Gastric Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,025.00
Summary
Stomach cancer is the third most lethal cancer worldwide, and is strongly associated with inflammation (gastritis) caused by Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection. However it remains unknown how Helicobacter triggers gastritis and stomach cancer in people. Using a mouse model for gastritis-associated stomach cancer, our aim is to demonstrate the role of immune system proteins in the stomach which detect bacterial and host DNA to drive chronic inflammatory responses that lead to stomach cancer.
Individuals with stomach cancer, the second most lethal cancer world-wide, have a poor survival rate which is largely due to our poor understanding of the mechanisms which drive this deadly malignancy. Our aims are to identify how over-activation of a specific molecule of the immune system, called STAT3, in the mitochondria of cells promotes the growth of stomach tumours, and also examine whether blocking the actions of mitochondrial STAT3 can suppress the growth of gastric cancer cells.
Novel Dual Domain Targeting Strategies Against ErbB Receptors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$711,216.00
Summary
This project will develop innovative strategies to treat cancer through novel antibodies to erbB growth factor receptors, and identify ways to improve conventional treatments.
Targeting PI3K-regulated Small Non-coding RNAs To Restore Cardiac Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$610,204.00
Summary
Heart failure affects approximately 2.4% of the adult population and over 11% of people over 80 years old. The majority of existing therapies slow, rather than reverse heart failure progression. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether regulating novel regulatory genes can enhance cardiac function in a setting of heart failure. Ultimately, technologies that target these genes may lead to innovative pharmacotherapies in the clinical management of heart failure.
Developing Species-specific, Structure-targeting Peptides As A Novel Class Of Antibiotics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,967.00
Summary
Multidrug, antibiotic resistance is a serious global threat. It is a real possibility that in the absence of new antibiotics, common infections could soon become untreatable. This project will develop a novel class of antibiotics that target the core structures of essential bacterial proteins. The successful outcome of this work will also aid the development of specific peptide-based inhibitors for numerous additional diseases, including viral and fungal infections and cancer.