Melanoma incidence continues to rise & it remains a leading cause of cancer death in young adults. Prevention & early detection are foundations of disease control. Drug treatments for advanced disease have recently begun to extend survival but remain ineffective in many. Utilising the extensive resources of Melanoma Institute Australia (world's largest melanoma treatment centre), this research seeks to improve outcomes of patients with difficult to treat & aggressive melanomas.
Molecular Determinants Of Progression And Treatment Response In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$467,068.00
Summary
Melanoma, a skin malignancy of pigment cells, is a major Australian health problem and is the commonest cancer in young adults. This project utilises the resources of the world’s largest melanoma treatment service and aims to develop a scientific basis for 1) improved management of individuals at high risk for melanoma progression, and 2) improved treatment of patients with early and disseminated melanoma, in an era of rapid change in the prospects of successfully treating this dangerous cancer.
Translating Molecular Pathology Into Cancer Diagnostics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$479,882.00
Summary
The aim of this research is focussed on translation of basic science through to the clinic by introducing novel cancer diagnostics and technologies. Other integral aims are to identify new changes in DNA and other cancer cell markers in patients, assess the clinical utility of these as biomarkers (surrogates of cancer behaviour) and to conduct novel clinical trials with newly identified molecular targets of cancer and new therapeutics and combinations to assess their efficacy.
Neurobiology Of Childhood Speech And Language Disorders: Advancing Diagnosis, Prognosis And Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$467,961.00
Summary
Half a million Australian children have a speech/language disorder, tripling their changes of poor academic outcomes, limited employment options and social isolation. Current speech therapy is outdated, focusing on symptoms and ignoring important evidence on underlying aetiologies. I will transform detection, diagnosis and treatment of speech/language disorders to optimise patient outcomes, by identifying and translating findings on genes and brain pathways leading to these conditions.
Major advances in cancer treatment has been made by identifying gene mutations in cancers to which the cancer is “addicted”, such that turning off the effects of the mutations leads to death of the cancer cells. Grant McArthur has been successful in applying this principle to rare types of sarcoma bringing his work to routine clinical practice globally. In this application he will investigate targeting the BRAF, KIT and MYC genes focusing on melanoma, a major cancer problem in Australia.