Signalling Through A Bioactive Aggrecan Fragment: What Is The Mechanism?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,347.00
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects approximately 20% of Australians. There are no therapies that modify the course of the disease and joint replacement surgery is expensive and invasive. We have discovered that a peptide product of cartilage breakdown (the 32mer) signals cartilage cells to mount an inflammatory and catabolic response. We will determine how the 32mer triggers this response, whether other joint cells are similarly activated and how it can be stopped, with the goal of pursuing new targets ....Osteoarthritis (OA) affects approximately 20% of Australians. There are no therapies that modify the course of the disease and joint replacement surgery is expensive and invasive. We have discovered that a peptide product of cartilage breakdown (the 32mer) signals cartilage cells to mount an inflammatory and catabolic response. We will determine how the 32mer triggers this response, whether other joint cells are similarly activated and how it can be stopped, with the goal of pursuing new targets for therapyRead moreRead less
MicroRNAs As Therapeutic Targets For Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$921,754.00
Summary
microRNAs are small cellular RNA fragments that regulate protein expression. They have been shown to be crucial regulators of normal development and are associated with many disease processes. The goal of this project is to determine the role of microRNAs in the initiation and progression of joint degeneration in osteoarthritis and test the therapeutic efficacy of targeting microRNAs as new approach to OA treatment.
Long-term In Vivo Imaging Of Bone Marrow Microenvironments In Multiple Myeloma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,371.00
Summary
White blood cells are soldiers of the immune system. When the machinery that controls growth and death of these cells is disrupted, these cells can undergo massive expansion. This leads to the development of blood cancers such as multiple myeloma (MM). In MM, malignant cells infiltrate bones preventing production of blood and damaging the bone structure leading to fractures. Using cutting edge microcopy we will watch how MM cells grow and damage bone tissue to develop new therapeutic approaches.
ARC, A Newly Identified Regulator Of Chondrocyte Differentiation And Death, Is A Novel Therapeutic Target For OA
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,983.00
Summary
We have identified a critical regulator of the survival and normal metabolism of the cells in articular cartilage. Loss of this molecule is an early event in joint injury that leads to osteoarthritis (OA). The current proposal will determine the mechanisms whereby this protein functions to protect cartilage breakdown in OA, how its levels in chondrocytes are regulated in both healthy and diseased conditions, and at what stages of disease increasing its expression protects against OA progression.
Molecular Mechanisms Of Joint Degeneration In Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$718,273.00
Summary
Arthritis is a major clinical and socio-economic problem. Arthritis involves the destruction of cartilage in joints. However, the mechanisms of initiation and progression of cartilage destruction remain poorly understood. Our studies will for explore the role of a new regulator of gene expression, microRNA, in the initation and progression of osteoarthritis. This will provide important new information on disease mechanisms for the development of diagnostic biomarkers and therapies
Deciphering The Metabolic And Endocrine Profile Of Healthy Adipocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,194.00
Summary
Obesity is associated with the development of metabolic diseases, however, it is becoming clear that it is where the excess fat is stored that is more important when predicting the health risks associated with obesity. This project aims to identify whether adipocyte progenitor cells, which eventually become fat cells, are ‘preprogrammed’ and whether differences in these cells explain the generation of either healthy or unhealthy fat in different locations of the body.
Comparison Of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells And Induced Pluripotent Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells For Periodontal Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$831,955.00
Summary
In the first part of this study we will determine whether induced pluripotent stem cells or adult stem cells from the periodontal ligament are better candidates for periodontal regeneration. Secondly, using CAD/CAM technology we will make tissue engineering scaffolds tailored to fit periodontal defects and seeded with stem cells to improve on current techniques used to regenerate damaged tissues around teeth affected by periodontal disease.
Investigating Human Keratinocyte Stem Cells And Their Microenvironmental Niche
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,928.00
Summary
The stem cells in the outer protective layers of the epithelium of the skin (keratinocyte stem cells), possess an intrinsically high capability to regenerate tissue. However, this tissue regenerative ability can be enhanced by interactions with microenvironmental elements i.e. connective tissue cells and proteins. This study seeks to investigate specific keratinocyte-microenvironment interactions which will ultimately be used to improve current methods for generating skin tissue for burns patien ....The stem cells in the outer protective layers of the epithelium of the skin (keratinocyte stem cells), possess an intrinsically high capability to regenerate tissue. However, this tissue regenerative ability can be enhanced by interactions with microenvironmental elements i.e. connective tissue cells and proteins. This study seeks to investigate specific keratinocyte-microenvironment interactions which will ultimately be used to improve current methods for generating skin tissue for burns patients.Read moreRead less
Osteochondroreticular Stem Cell Therapy For Osteoarthritis: The Right Cells For The Job.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,956.00
Summary
"Wear and tear" arthritis of the knee, hip and back joints is known as osteoarthritis. This causes significant health burden and costs in our community, particularly in older Australians. Osteoarthritis begins with the loss of joint cartilage. We believe that a new type of stem cells (OCR stem cells) offer the greatest promise to generate and thus therapeutically replace joint cartilage. Our studies test this hypothesis and develop preclinical translation of our discoveries in mice into humans.
Transcriptome Landscape Of Brown/beige Adipogenesis In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,369.00
Summary
There are three kinds of fat in the body: white, brown and beige. While excess white fat results in obesity, brown fat is associated with leanness and lowers blood glucose levels. Recent animal experiments show that under certain conditions, white fat can be transformed into beige fat, leading to benefits such as weight loss. The current project grant involves examination of human fat cells grown in the laboratory and investigation on the genetics of brown and beige fat.