Development And Validation Of A Latent Tuberculosis Diagnostic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$534,865.00
Summary
Globally, tuberculosis is a leading cause of death with 9.6 million new diagnoses in 2014. The diagnosis of latent TB infection is important, but is difficult to make because current assays are suboptimal. We have developed a very simple assay which detects responses to TB antigens by co-expression of two surface markers expressed by CD4+ T cells. We propose to develop this into a highly standardised kit for the diagnosis of TB with our commercial partner Cytognos.
Validation Of A Multiplexed Blood Based Screening Assay For The Diagnosis Of Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$556,712.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in Australia with poor patient outcome due to late detection of the disease. We have developed a simple blood based test that can diagnose individuals with CRC at an early stage when the chance of cure is greater than 80%.
Manufacture And Testing Of Next Generation Orthopaedic Implants Harnessing Periosteum's Regenerative Power
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,314.00
Summary
Tissue defects, e.g. due to trauma or tumor removal, are too large to heal without reconstructive surgery. Complications associated with defect repair may diminish the patient's quality of life and productivity, posing significant medical and psychosocial costs. Here we propose a plan to define technical specifications for next generation, "smart" orthopaedic implants that deliver cells and the signals they need to build new tissue using nature's paradigms.
Development Of A Blood-based Screening Test For Colorectal Neoplasia; Biomarker Expression In Circulating Tumor Cells And Tumor-derived Microvesicles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,938.00
Summary
A blood-based test for bowel cancer and the premalignant lesion (i.e. adenomas) has potential to improve several aspects of screening for bowel cancer – improved capacity to detect lesions in well people who do not suspect their presence, avoidance of faecal sampling and fewer false-positive results. There is no reliable simple screening test for adenomas. This study aims at developing a practical blood test based on a device that filters and enriches cells from blood that carry these markers
Production Of Large Scale Erythroid Progenitor Cultures From Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$396,718.00
Summary
Transfusion of fresh red blood cell units of the correct blood type into patients can be life saving. However, access to units of the correct blood type is often limited due to limited supply of donor blood and its short shelf life creating the need for a constant donor blood supply. We propose to develop a system that allows us to generate unlimited numbers of human red blood cells in a culture dish which we will derive from differentiating human embryonic stem cell lines.
Development Of A First-in-class Therapeutic For Protecting The Ischemic Heart
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$926,673.00
Summary
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally. Heart attacks are the primary cause of death associated with heart disease. We have discovered a drug, Hi1a, that blocks the injury response of the heart when a heart attack happens. There are no other drugs currently available or in the discovery pipeline that address this problem. This proposal will use models of injury to the heart as well as safety studies to help develop Hi1a as a new drug for people who suffer from heart attacks.
Preclinical Development Of Q2361, A Transforming New Drug For Skin Cancer Prevention In Organ Transplant Recipients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$724,957.00
Summary
Patients that receive organ transplants need additional medications in order to prevent organ rejection. Unfortunately, these drugs carry an unwanted side-effect - they permit the development of skin cancer. Currently, other than surgery, little can be done to help these patients. Our preliminary data suggest that a new drug may prevent these skin cancers from forming. This project aims to deliver key insights into the influence of this drug and its role in skin cancer prevention.
Development Of Effective Biomarkers For The Diagnosis And Prognosis Of Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,062,585.00
Summary
Every year ~20,000 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 3,000 die of this disease. The current PSA test for the diagnosis of prostate cancer is not specific and this can result in incorrect diagnosis, unnecessary biopsies and lead to wrong treatments. We have discovered a novel change in the biology of prostate cancer. We will use this information to develop new tests for prostate cancer, which provide early accurate detection and can predict disease progression.
Novel Prostate Cancer Target For Diagnosis, Imaging, Detection Of Recurrence And Response To Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$731,497.00
Summary
This project will generate the critical proof of concept to justify clinical development of a novel biomarker in prostate cancer which would bring significant benefit in terms of differential diagnosis of aggressive disease. The biomarker will be assessed for a functional role in prostate cancer and potential as a therapeutic target and use as a imaging agent in for monitoring disease progression and response to therapy. These investigations will be extended to other common solid tumours.
Development Of A Novel And Highly Selective CDK4/6 Inhibitor For Treating Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,171,199.00
Summary
We have identified and patented novel drug molecules targeting enzymes namely CDKs 4 and 6, that are important for survival of cancer cells. The drugs are highly selective and potent against CDK4/6, well absorbed orally, and have attracted much interest from a pharmaceutical company. Further detailed work is needed to characterize fully their anti-cancer effects and toxicity, thereby securing a major investment from our commercial partner for drug development for treating cancers.