Afinity Maturation And Development Of An Anti-inflammatory Monoclonal Antibody
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,489.00
Summary
Antibodies are a relatively new class of drugs that directly target molecular mechanisms of disease. Antibody therapies, such as the breast cancer drug Herceptin, have significantly increased our arsenal of effective therapeutics. In collaboration with G2 Therapies, we will use cutting-edge genetic engineering technology to produce fully human antibodies for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Innovative And Multi-disciplinary Treatment Strategies For Secondary Degeneration Following Neurotrauma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,452.00
Summary
Following injury to the central nervous system the damage spreads into nearby areas, leading to worse outcomes for the patient. The research conducted during this Fellowship will ensure that promising treatment strategies to prevent spreading damage are used in the best way, and will determine the mechanism of action of these treatments.
Development Of Novel Therapeutics To Prevent Or Treat Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
Preeclampsia, a major pregnancy complication, affects ~3-8% of pregnancies. There is no cure. We have developed new strategies to tackle the disease, including delivery of agents specifically to the placenta and repurposing drugs safe in pregnancy. We will test whether these strategies can quench disease in models developed in our laboratory, and examine samples from women who participated in clinical trial to treat preeclampsia. This offers new possibilities in the management of preeclampsia.
The Role Of Glycans In Arboviral Disease; From Immunomodulation To Glycotherapeutic Treatment Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Dengue and chikungunya viruses are leading causes of emerging mosquito-transmitted (arboviral) disease worldwide. Currently there are no available vaccines or therapeutics making combatting these arboviral diseases one of our most pressing global health challenges. Preliminary evidence shows that glycan recognition is critical for disease immunopathogenesis. This project focuses on the role of viral glycans in arboviral disease with the aim of identifying and expanding on new therapeutic targets
Next Generation Imaging To Bridge The Knowledge Gap In Nanomedicine Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,402.00
Summary
Nanomedicines are generally touted as the next generation in therapeutics. However, despite some landmark successes, their translation into clinical use is limited. This is mainly a result of poor understanding of how they behave under physiological conditions. To address this issue and improve translation, this fellowship aims to develop predictive models of how nanomedicines interact with biological systems, then validate the nanomedicines in dog models of cancer that mimic the human disease.
Harnessing The Consequences Of Impaired Mitochondrial Function To Treat And Image Motor Neuron Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,477.00
Summary
Motor neuron disease (MND) is a group of fatal adult-onset diseases affecting the neurons that relay signals from the brain to muscles. The incidence of MND is rapidly increasing due to the ageing population and a diagnosis of MND comes with a prognosis of paralysis and 2-5 years survival. The diagnosis process is lengthy, and even after MND is confirmed, there are no effective therapeutics. This research project aims to develop new therapeutic and diagnostic options for MND.
Structural And Drug Discovery Studies Of Medically Important Protein Complexes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,577.00
Summary
My research is focused on structural studies of medically important biological systems, where specific protein complex formation contributes to human illnesses. I use X-ray crystallography to visualize the whole complex at atomic resolution as well as to determine whether binding partners have undergone changes in shape upon complex formation. This structural information then helps me in drug design with goals to either disrupt or modulate the complex.