Presentation Of Metabolite Antigens By MR1 Molecules: A Fundamental System Of Immune Priming
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,832.00
Summary
Our immune system constantly monitors our body for disease-causing microbes, such as bacteria that cause illnesses like pneumonia or tuberculosis. Our cells have a molecular alarm-system called 'MR1' which alerts white blood cells that an infection by microbes is occurring, however this process is not well understood. This grant will allow me to discover the cells and molecular pathways that govern the MR1 alarm system, which may lead to new treatments against common diseases in our community.
Developing Novel Peptide-based Therapeutics And Technologies To Mitigate Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,161,383.00
Summary
Fibrosis (tissue scarring) is an unmet medical problem that adversely affects both human health and medical devices. It causes organ (e.g. heart, kidney) failure leading to death. Fibrotic encapsulation causes medical device (e.g. surgical mesh) failure. Our team has discovered a peptide, B7-33, that mitigates fibrosis in the short-term. Our IDEAS grant aims to develop long-acting B7-33 therapies and, to employ long-acting B7-33 mimetics in anti-fibrotic compositions for surgical meshes.