Development Of Potent And Selective Blockers Of Acid Sensing Ion Channels For The Treatment Of Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,704.00
Summary
More than three million Australians suffer from chronic pain, and there are few effective drugs available for treating this condition. A 2007 Access Economics Report estimated the economic burden of chronic pain in Australia at $34.3 billion. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are a recently discovered family of proteins that play a key role in sensing pain. The goal of this project is to develop potent blockers of these channels that can be used to treat patients suffering from persistent pain.
Chronic pain is a significant global health, economic and social problem, with the annual economic burden estimated at approximately $40 billion in Australia. My research will focus on the discovery and structure-function of venom peptides (trivially called toxins) from cone snails and spiders plus other Australian venomous creatures that modulate sodium and calcium channels in peripheral pain and associated pathways and optimise these for clinical development.
Rational Development Of Novel Analgesics For The Treatment Of Chronic Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$595,945.00
Summary
Chronic pain is a major global health problem that currently affects over three million Australians. There are few drugs available for treatment of chronic pain and most have significant side-effects. Individuals lacking a particular type of ion channel known as Nav1.7 are completely insensitive to pain, but are otherwise normal. Block of this channel therefore appears to be an ideal avenue for pain relief. This project aims to produce selective Nav1.7 blockers that can be used as analgesics for ....Chronic pain is a major global health problem that currently affects over three million Australians. There are few drugs available for treatment of chronic pain and most have significant side-effects. Individuals lacking a particular type of ion channel known as Nav1.7 are completely insensitive to pain, but are otherwise normal. Block of this channel therefore appears to be an ideal avenue for pain relief. This project aims to produce selective Nav1.7 blockers that can be used as analgesics for treating chronic pain.Read moreRead less