MPM Non-invasive Imaging Of Biological Interactions Following Drug Delivery With Micro-nanoprojection Patches.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,612.00
Summary
The overarching aim of my research is to develop and evaluate effective, practical and reproducible physical methods for delivering genes and drugs to specific immunologically-sensitive cells in the skin to ultimately treat and vaccinate against human diseases. I recently patented a method using arrays of nano-scale projections on a patch to accurately, efficiently and safely deliver biomolecules not just to specific skin cells, but also to organelles within them. Conceptually, the delivery devi ....The overarching aim of my research is to develop and evaluate effective, practical and reproducible physical methods for delivering genes and drugs to specific immunologically-sensitive cells in the skin to ultimately treat and vaccinate against human diseases. I recently patented a method using arrays of nano-scale projections on a patch to accurately, efficiently and safely deliver biomolecules not just to specific skin cells, but also to organelles within them. Conceptually, the delivery device is a set of microscopic nanoneedles coated with drug substance and applied to the skin as a small patch. The device is practical, needle-free and pain-free. The aim of this current project is to use the micro-nanoprojection array patches-configured to uniquely deliver biomolecules to cells within given strata-to find: 1) what delivery sites of antigen-expression plasmid- toll like receptor (TLR) agonist lead to strong humoral immune responses in the intact animal. 2) whether delivery of different TLR agonists have different effects on the maturation and migration of the different professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the skin, as visualised locally by Multi-Photon Microscopy (MPM). 3) whether differences in APC maturation and migration are associated with different systemic antibody responses. We will identify optimal delivery sites of drugs-vaccines to the skin (layer, cells targeted, duration of delivery) with MPM for desired systemic immune responses. This will have important contributions towards improving immunotherapeutics of major diseases via skin targeting with micro-nanoprojection array patch technologies (and other methods).Read moreRead less
Infectious And Lifestyle Determinants Of Non-melanoma Skin Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$983,711.00
Summary
Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are the leading cancers in Australia, with about 2% of the population developing them each year. As well as sun exposure, a number of other factors have been thought to effect these cancers. This study will examine if factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and infection with certain skin related human papillomaviruses also increase their risk. Even a small effect may make a big difference when it comes to preventing these common cancers.
Immune Privilege Of The Hair Follicle: Implications For Alopecia Areata
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
The skin, the second largest organ in the body after the skeleton, is of primary importance to the survival of mammalian life. Hair follicles are complex skin appendages, problems of which have an impact on human health and emotional welfare disproportionate to their small dimensions. In this study we will investigate the role of the immune system in the hair loss disease, alopecia areata, one of the most common human autoimmune diseases with the aim of finding more effective avenues of treatmen ....The skin, the second largest organ in the body after the skeleton, is of primary importance to the survival of mammalian life. Hair follicles are complex skin appendages, problems of which have an impact on human health and emotional welfare disproportionate to their small dimensions. In this study we will investigate the role of the immune system in the hair loss disease, alopecia areata, one of the most common human autoimmune diseases with the aim of finding more effective avenues of treatment for this poorly understood disease.Read moreRead less
Development Of New Therapy For Children Suffering From Epidermolysis Bullosa
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
Skin blistering diseases affect 1:17,000 live births. Constant skin blistering affects the quality of life and is often fatal in the first 2 years. For those children that survive, skin blistering leads to scarring, fusion of the fingers, infections and skin cancers. To date, the management of blistered children is mainly supportive and no specific cure exists. This study will develop new therapies for children with skin blistering diseases and will significantly improve their quality of life.
Overcoming Resistance Of Human Metastatic Melanoma To Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$727,758.00
Summary
Melanoma is a major Australian health problem, but there is no curative treatment once the disease spreads beyond the skin. I have been working on “overcoming resistance of melanoma to treatment” continuously for 10 years. My past research has provided a number of insights into the resistance of melanoma to treatment. I wish to extend my work to find new treatment approaches against the disease. If successful, this work will greatly benefit melanoma patients and Australian people.
The mechanisms controlling cell growth are often disrupted in cancers. Here we will investigate a fundamental mechanism that ensures that every daughter cells receives identical copies of DNA. This control mechanism also appears to have a key role in protecting the cells that continuously repopulate the epidermal layer ofthe skin that are target for ultraviolet radiation induced mutation that lead to skin cancers. This mechanism is inoperative in cells derived from skin cancers, indicating that ....The mechanisms controlling cell growth are often disrupted in cancers. Here we will investigate a fundamental mechanism that ensures that every daughter cells receives identical copies of DNA. This control mechanism also appears to have a key role in protecting the cells that continuously repopulate the epidermal layer ofthe skin that are target for ultraviolet radiation induced mutation that lead to skin cancers. This mechanism is inoperative in cells derived from skin cancers, indicating that mutation of components of this mechanism must have occurred. These mutations, and the loss of this normally protective control mechanism are likely to contribute to either an increased risk of skin cancer, or to the increased malignant spread of the diseases.Read moreRead less
Skin cancer affects 60% of Australians. Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) prevents many of sunlight’s damaging effects and reduces premalignant keratoses by 35% compared to placebo in sun-damaged individuals. We now need to test whether nicotinamide can prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer patients will receive nicotinamide or placebo for 12 months and new cancers will be counted in each group. Nicotinamide is safe, widely available and an exciting opportunity for cost-effective skin cancer prevention.
Dendritic Cell-mediated Induction Of T Cell Tolerance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$654,725.00
Summary
Australia has some of the highest rates of immune-mediated diseases in the world. These diseases include autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory conditions. We will use a mouse model to study how dendritic cells can prevent the onset of these conditions by inactivating the immune cells that cause them. Our findings will aid in understanding why these diseases develop and how they may be prevented and treated.