E-CADHERIN AS A KEY MOLECULE IN RENAL EPITHELIAL-MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION AND FIBROSIS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,267.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of death and disability in the Australian population. Current treatments for CKD are non-specific and frequently ineffective. As a consequence, kidney failure progresses to the stage where patients require dialysis or transplantation to remain alive. Every year more than 1700 Australians require kidney replacement therapy for this reason and many more die of kidney failure or its complications. Kidney fibrosis is the final common result of diverse CK ....Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of death and disability in the Australian population. Current treatments for CKD are non-specific and frequently ineffective. As a consequence, kidney failure progresses to the stage where patients require dialysis or transplantation to remain alive. Every year more than 1700 Australians require kidney replacement therapy for this reason and many more die of kidney failure or its complications. Kidney fibrosis is the final common result of diverse CKD. This project proposes to investigate EMT, a key event in the development of renal fibrosis, whereby kidney cells are converted to fibrogenic cells. The project focuses on matrix enzymes (metalloproteinases) and E-cadherin (a molecule which is involved in adherence of kidney cells to one another, but which we think may actually be involved in the causation of EMT). This focus is novel, and could provide new understanding about the process of EMT in renal fibrosis, knowledge relevant to all diseases characterised by eventual loss of organ function due to fibrosis. It will identify new targets for therapy aimed at preventing fibrotic diseases of all types.Read moreRead less
New Treatments For Acute Kidney Injury-Targeting The IL-17A Pathway
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,200.00
Summary
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common cause of ill-health and death. Despite the frequency and seriousness of AKI no new treatments have developed over the past 40 years. While AKI can occur spontaneously it can also develop after treatment with medications, in particular cancer therapies. In this proposal we will explore the effect of new treatments to prevent AKI. We plan to identify new treatments for patients with AKI, with particular relevance to patients receiving cancer treatments.
AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) In Acute Renal Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,523.00
Summary
Acute renal failure is a common complication of any severe illness. Generally, it is the lack of blood flow, or food that leads to this problem. People who are ill are unable to provide adequate blood flow to their kidneys, so the kidneys become diseased and fail to function. This can be fatal. There are, however, mechanisms in the kidney that are designed to avoid this shortage of energy. The aim of these studies is to find out what these protective mechanisms usually do in the kidney, and unde ....Acute renal failure is a common complication of any severe illness. Generally, it is the lack of blood flow, or food that leads to this problem. People who are ill are unable to provide adequate blood flow to their kidneys, so the kidneys become diseased and fail to function. This can be fatal. There are, however, mechanisms in the kidney that are designed to avoid this shortage of energy. The aim of these studies is to find out what these protective mechanisms usually do in the kidney, and understand why they are not more active. We hope to find ways to switch them on earleir, using drugs, so as to protect the kidneys from injury.Read moreRead less
I am a reproductive physiologist investigating the nature and actions of hormones, particularly steroids and transforming growth factor-? superfamily members, regulating follicle growth and oocyte quality in the ovary, implantation and breakthrough bleedi
Prof A Suhrbier is the Group Leader of the Inflammation Biology Group at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. The group focuses at the applied end of inflammation research and development and will be involved in the identification and development of new interventions and diagnostics for inflammatory diseases and cancer, often in collaboration with the biotech industry.