Cholestasis And Hepatocyte Injury In Chronic Liver Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$615,967.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to understand the consequences of long-term cholestasis or impaired bile excretion/flow on normal liver cells (hepatocytes) and to test whether specific bile acids can cause irreversible damage to hepatocytes leading to their transformation into pre-malignant cells and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). The results from this project will inform new strategies in screening, prevention and treatment of liver cancer in children and adults with cholestasis.
Novel Functional Testing For Early Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,578.00
Summary
About 7.5% of Australians have diabetes and 62% of them will have signs of damage to their eyes within 6 years of diagnosis. Diabetes is 2 to 3 times more common amongst Aboriginal Australians. A group of researchers at the Australian National University are collaborating to bring a new test for the severity of diabetic eye disease to the market within 3 years. The objective is to provide doctors with a rapid, cost-effective tool to help them recognize sight-threatening damage and to assist in t ....About 7.5% of Australians have diabetes and 62% of them will have signs of damage to their eyes within 6 years of diagnosis. Diabetes is 2 to 3 times more common amongst Aboriginal Australians. A group of researchers at the Australian National University are collaborating to bring a new test for the severity of diabetic eye disease to the market within 3 years. The objective is to provide doctors with a rapid, cost-effective tool to help them recognize sight-threatening damage and to assist in treatment.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Melanoma Tumour Antigen P97 (Melanotransferrin) In Melanoma Tumourigenesis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,242.00
Summary
The Role of Melanoma Tumour Antigen p97 (Melanotransferrin) in Melanoma Tumourigenesis Melanotransferrin (MTf) is a homologue of the iron transport protein, transferrin, and was one of the first well characterised melanoma tumour antigens. Our published studies have shown that MTf plays an important role in melanoma tumourigenesis in vivo. In this proposal, we will assess if it is associated with melanoma progression in patient samples and examine its role in melanoma growth and metastasis.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100026
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$379,536.00
Summary
Insect diversity and carrion decomposition in modified landscapes. Decomposition is fundamental to the recycling of nutrients in ecosystems, yet it is not known how different combinations of decomposer insects contribute to this important ecosystem service. This project includes a series of experiments to examine how insects affect carrion decomposition rates, and how this depends on environmental context. The project aims to show how decomposition is maintained in variable and changing landscap ....Insect diversity and carrion decomposition in modified landscapes. Decomposition is fundamental to the recycling of nutrients in ecosystems, yet it is not known how different combinations of decomposer insects contribute to this important ecosystem service. This project includes a series of experiments to examine how insects affect carrion decomposition rates, and how this depends on environmental context. The project aims to show how decomposition is maintained in variable and changing landscapes by revealing when the loss or gain of species will alter this critical ecological process. This will have implications for biodiversity-ecosystem function theory, and applications to biodiversity management and ecosystem restoration.Read moreRead less
The role of neutral amino acid transport in normal physiology. Future benefits of these studies include the Promotion and Maintenance of Good Health achieved by providing: (1) a better understanding of brain and balance disorders; (2) insights into the damaging effects of the sun and; (3) existing neonatal screening programmes for Hartnup disorder with greater scientific foundation regarding the implications of inheriting this condition, including dietary advce. We will be able to provide Austr ....The role of neutral amino acid transport in normal physiology. Future benefits of these studies include the Promotion and Maintenance of Good Health achieved by providing: (1) a better understanding of brain and balance disorders; (2) insights into the damaging effects of the sun and; (3) existing neonatal screening programmes for Hartnup disorder with greater scientific foundation regarding the implications of inheriting this condition, including dietary advce. We will be able to provide Australians who inherit Hartnup disorder with a better understanding of this disease by enabling individuals and families to make choices that lead to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.Read moreRead less
Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people w ....Platelets are key blood elements that are essential for the prevention of bleeding in response to injury or infection. Overactive or spontaneously active platelets cause thrombosis and blood clot formation. My laboratory has identified new physiological pathways of activation of platelet metalloproteinases, the enzymes that regulate surface levels of the prothrombotic platelet receptors. By understanding this mechanism of receptor regulation, we can uniquely target platelet receptors in people with prothrombotic pathologies.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of Receptors That Control Platelet Function Under Shear Stress
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,273.00
Summary
Specialized human blood cells that control blood loss and clotting (platelets) are currently difficult to test in the clinical laboratory, meaning patients are at risk of excessive bleeding or serious clot formation during disease or treatment. The aim of this proposal is to use our new reagents and assays to develop more reliable methods for evaluating relative bleeding or clotting risk in individuals.
Autoimmune-based thrombocytopenia can be a life-threatening adverse event associated with viral load, surgery, drug therapies or the use of the anticoagulant, heparin. This grant will define mechanisms of anti-platelet antibody-dependent platelet activation and assess shedding of platelet-specific glycoprotein (GP)VI as an immediate consequence of this activation, provide a new strategy for evaluating risk of thrombosis in HIT.
The Role Of Duffy And PF4 In The Platelet Killing Of Malaria Parasites.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,045.00
Summary
Platelets in the blood can kill the Plasmodium parasite, which lives inside red blood cells and causes malaria. Platelets bind parasite-infected red cells and release a molecule that is toxic to the parasite. This project will study why a red cell molecule called Duffy is also needed for this function of platelets. Most Africans carry a gene for Duffy that stops its expression in red cells, and may therefore be more susceptible to malaria because their platelets cannot kill the malaria parasite.
Unsaturation of vapour pressure inside leaves: fundamental, but unknown. This project aims to determine when and to what extent the air inside leaves becomes unsaturated with water vapour. All current interpretation and modelling of leaf gas exchange assumes saturation under all circumstances. Compelling evidence has been obtained that suggests this is not true under moderate air vapour pressure deficits. A novel technique will be employed to assess the water vapour concentration of the air insi ....Unsaturation of vapour pressure inside leaves: fundamental, but unknown. This project aims to determine when and to what extent the air inside leaves becomes unsaturated with water vapour. All current interpretation and modelling of leaf gas exchange assumes saturation under all circumstances. Compelling evidence has been obtained that suggests this is not true under moderate air vapour pressure deficits. A novel technique will be employed to assess the water vapour concentration of the air inside leaves based on stable isotope analysis of carbon dioxide and water vapour exchanged between leaves and air. The project is expected to provide fundamental knowledge about how stomata regulate photosynthesis and water use, with significant implications for modelling vegetation function and for improving the performance of crop plants.Read moreRead less