Immediate Cooling And Emergency Decompression (ICED) For The Treatment Of Spinal Cord Injury: Pilot, Safety And Feasibility Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,008.00
Summary
Victims of Spinal Cord Injury are young, have severe paralysis, complex needs and high lifetime costs. Although urgent surgery greatly improves outcome, it is difficult to achieve because of logistical difficulties. To expand the time window for early surgery, it is proposed to immediately cool patients. This project will conduct the pilot studies necessary before commencing a clinical trial of immediate cooling and emergency decompression (ICED) in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries.
Effectiveness Of Ghrelin Receptor Agonists To Limit The Extent Of Tissue Damage Caused By Traumatic Injury To The Central Nervous System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,002.00
Summary
Ghrelin is a naturally occurring compound that under adverse conditions can activate specific receptors on cells around the body to enhance their survival. These receptors are also present in the spinal cord, but ghrelin doesn't enter the spinal cord. We will investigate a new group of compounds that can enter the spinal cord and activate these receptors to see if this can reduce the amount of damage that occurs after a spinal cord injury. Less tissue damage would mean less permanent disability.
Cell-cell fusion is critical for the development and transport capacity of the placenta during pregnancy. Impairments in this process occur in pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia (PE). We have identified a novel pathway (LY6E) regulating placental cell-cell fusion which is also dysregulated in human pregnancies complicated by PE. In the current proposal we will investigate the mechanisms by which LY6E mediates cell-cell fusion and examine its role in the development of PE.
Dissecting A Serial Killer: Investigating The Degranulation Pathways In Cytotoxic Lymphocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$604,459.00
Summary
When cells of the human body become cancerous or infected with virus, the body's immune system engages cytotoxic lymphocytes, known as "killer cells", that secrete an auxiliary of toxic proteins to eliminate these cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms by which these critical immune cells accomplish this task. Importantly, humans who are genetically lacking in critical constituents of the cytotoxic lymphocyte are less able to fight off a viral infection and may be at a hig ....When cells of the human body become cancerous or infected with virus, the body's immune system engages cytotoxic lymphocytes, known as "killer cells", that secrete an auxiliary of toxic proteins to eliminate these cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms by which these critical immune cells accomplish this task. Importantly, humans who are genetically lacking in critical constituents of the cytotoxic lymphocyte are less able to fight off a viral infection and may be at a higher risk of developing cancer.Read moreRead less
Cytoskeletal Remodeling Of The Erythrocyte During Malaria Parasite Invasion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$559,807.00
Summary
Malaria parasites cause profound human disease through infection of the red blood cell. How parasites break into the red cell is incompletely understood. Foremost, the parasite must induce radical changes in its structural integrity to enter, but to date no study has been able to precisely map these cellular events. In this research program we aim to dissect the entire process using state-of-the-art imaging, molecular biology and proteomics to shine new light on this key step in malaria disease ....Malaria parasites cause profound human disease through infection of the red blood cell. How parasites break into the red cell is incompletely understood. Foremost, the parasite must induce radical changes in its structural integrity to enter, but to date no study has been able to precisely map these cellular events. In this research program we aim to dissect the entire process using state-of-the-art imaging, molecular biology and proteomics to shine new light on this key step in malaria disease establishment.Read moreRead less
Targeting The Complement Activation Fragment C5a To Improve The Outcome From Spinal Cord Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,838.00
Summary
This project will focus on the development of a new drug that is designed to attenuate the harmful inflammatory response that follows from spinal cord injury (SCI). The experiments will determine if the therapeutic targeting of an immune receptor molecule, called C5aR, can protect compromised neural tissues after injury against harmful inflammation and degeneration whilst also explore the mechanism behind the therapeutic effect.
Hypothermia Prior To Decompression For Treatment Of Acute Spinal Cord Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$294,163.00
Summary
In spinal cord injuries, the cord is compressed as a result of vertebral injury. Urgent relief of compression improves outcome, however, is difficult because of the complexity of pre-surgical management. Our data demonstrate that hypothermia stops compressive spinal cord injury, allowing decompression to be performed in a period that will benefit most patients. This project aims to undertake the studies necessary before beginning a human trial of hypothermia prior to decompressive surgery.
Histone Demethylase KDM6A Is A Novel Target For Treating Craniosynostosis In Children With Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,854.00
Summary
Children with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome exhibit premature fused coronal sutures, and other skull/ skeletal malformations. Surgical intervention is the only treatment option to ensure optimal cognitive and skeletal development. Our studies have identified a candidate molecular pathway that regulates bone formation by cranial bone cells from these patients. Targeting this key molecular regulator with chemical inhibitors will help prevent the premature fusion of cranial sutures.
Tyrosine Kinase Receptor C-ros-oncogene 1 Mediates Twist-1 Haploinsufficiency Induced Craniosynostosis In Children: A Novel Therapeutic Target
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,863.00
Summary
Children with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome exhibit premature fussed coronal sutures, and other skull/ skeletal malformations. Surgical intervention is the only treatment option to ensure optimal cognitive and skeletal development. Our studies have identified a candidate molecular pathway that regulates bone formation by cranial bone cells from these patients. Targeting these key molecular signalling components with chemical inhibitors will help prevent the premature fusion of cranial sutures.
Can Exercise Early After Spinal Cord Injury Prevent Deterioration Of Muscle And Bone?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$775,049.00
Summary
Spinal cord injury leads to a profound deterioration of the muscles and bones in the paralysed limbs. This project will examine the effects of exercising the paralysed limbs as early as possible after injury to prevent muscle and bone loss rather than restoring the tissues once changes have occurred. The time course and mechanisms underlying the microstructural decay of bone over the first year after injury will also be examined to provide a basis for determining fracture risk in this group.