Hepatitis C affects between 1-3% of Australians. Currently, there is no effective vaccine and only 30% will spontaneously clear infection, while the remained develop a chronic disease with a small risk of progression to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer over time. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a two different treatment regimens among individuals with recent Hepatitis C infection; and define the risk factors and natural history of Hepatitis C superinfection during treatmen ....Hepatitis C affects between 1-3% of Australians. Currently, there is no effective vaccine and only 30% will spontaneously clear infection, while the remained develop a chronic disease with a small risk of progression to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer over time. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a two different treatment regimens among individuals with recent Hepatitis C infection; and define the risk factors and natural history of Hepatitis C superinfection during treatment.Read moreRead less
Chronic Oral Graft-versus-host Disease: Clinical Risk Factors, Biochemical Markers Of Disease Activity And Novel Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$134,184.00
Summary
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication of bone marrow transplantation. The oral cavity is often affected. Aims: 1.Identify and validate risk factors for oral GVHD 2.Assess if specific salivary components reflect disease activity 3.Trial novel therapeutic for GVHD-associated dry mouth Saliva testing may offer a non-invasive method to monitor oral GVHD. Also, new and effective topical agents are greatly needed and will improve therapeutic options in oral GVHD
Clearing Chronic Infectious Diseases – Enhancing Host Immune Effector Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,314.00
Summary
Chronic infections produced by pathogens such as HIV, overwhelm our immune system leading to an exhausted state where cells responsible for the clearance of invading microorganisms are unable to respond effectively. We have recently identified a highly promising therapeutic target that enhances immune effector function. We seek to understand the underlying mechanism, and to explore the therapeutic potential of this approach for the treatment of a broad range of pathogens, including those respons ....Chronic infections produced by pathogens such as HIV, overwhelm our immune system leading to an exhausted state where cells responsible for the clearance of invading microorganisms are unable to respond effectively. We have recently identified a highly promising therapeutic target that enhances immune effector function. We seek to understand the underlying mechanism, and to explore the therapeutic potential of this approach for the treatment of a broad range of pathogens, including those responsible for chronic disease.Read moreRead less
Suppression Of Immunity By The Malaria Parasite Antigen Plasmodium Falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein-1 (PfEMP-1)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$96,698.00
Summary
The malaria parasite P. falciparum infects red blood cells and makes the cells put on their surface a protein called PfEMP-1. The parasite can effectively “hide” by constantly changing this protein and making it unrecognizable by the immune system. PfEMP-1 can also suppress the immune system so that it can’t respond adequately to infection. Therefore, understanding PfEMP-1 function is important. I will investigate how PfEMP-1 can do this by looking at its cross talk with the immune system.
Factors That Influence Disease Severity In Tuberculosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$149,076.00
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health problem and is one of the leading causes of death from an infectious disease worldwide. The severity of disease that occurs with TB is dependent on many complex factors including the infected person’s immune system and factors related to the TB organism itself. This research will determine the key factors that cause severe disease in TB which will translate into improved care of TB patients and enhance further research in this field.
Overcoming Radiation Resistance In Glioblastoma With Novel Metabolic Modulations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$62,554.00
Summary
Aim 1 is to document the pathological, surgical, radiotherapy and chemotherapy patterns of care in the Australian setting using the AGOG (Australian Genomics and Clinical Outcomes of Glioma) database. The second aim to develop non-invasive imaging biomarkers which can be used to monitor treatment efficacy. The third aim is to improve outcomes using drug and radiation combination therapy. in the treatment of high grade gliomas.
The Role Of Chemokine Signalling In Maintenance Of The Latent HIV Reservoir
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,161.00
Summary
HIV cure research aims to eliminate cells with HIV in their DNA. These cells have higher levels of a receptor, CCR6, signalling through which causes migration to and concentration in the gut. This gut migration may help to maintain the HIV reservoir by bringing susceptible cells close to infected cells. We will assess the effect of blocking CCR6 signalling on the ability to infect these cells with HIV in the laboratory and its effect on the reservoir of an analogous virus in macaques.
Dengue Host-cell Signalling Interactions: Novel Insights And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,676.00
Summary
Dengue is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes that occurs in many tropical and subtropical regions. Approximately 40% of the world's population is at risk of this infection. Sometimes it can be mild but it can lead to severe illness and death especially with second infections. The body produces a response that over-reacts to the virus in these severe infections. The project aims to understand why the body does this and what parts of the immune system are affected using a model in mice.
The Primary HIV Combined United Database (PCUD) is the largest database of patients with primary HIV infection in Australia. Dating back to 1983, it collects data from people with HIV seroconversion. Primary HIV infection, or seroconversion provides a unique opportunity to study HIV throughout its natural history. This study aims to link data on long term health outcomes such as AIDS, cancer and cardiovascular disease in this cohort, which can then be used to understand the determinants of progr ....The Primary HIV Combined United Database (PCUD) is the largest database of patients with primary HIV infection in Australia. Dating back to 1983, it collects data from people with HIV seroconversion. Primary HIV infection, or seroconversion provides a unique opportunity to study HIV throughout its natural history. This study aims to link data on long term health outcomes such as AIDS, cancer and cardiovascular disease in this cohort, which can then be used to understand the determinants of progression and complications of HIV infection.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Stellate Cells In Fibrosis And Liver Disease Progression In HIV-Hepatitis B Co-infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$157,292.00
Summary
Liver related mortality is the commonest cause of non-AIDS death in HIV infected individuals on treatment. With HIV, HBV liver damage is accelerated and liver-related mortality increased. Understanding how and why is critical to management. I will examine the role of hepatic stellate cells using in vitro models and directly ex vivo from infected patient biopsy tissue. I will investigate the activated of these cells by HIV and HBV infection, thus promoting scar formation with liver injury.