Role Of Primary Cilia And PCP Proteins In Lens Development: Implications For Lens Regeneration After Cataract Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,742.00
Summary
Cataract extraction is the most common surgical procedure conducted in our hospitals today. Unfortunately, a complication of surgery is the development of a secondary cataract. This is caused by residual lens epithelial cells undergoing a wound healing response that leads to severe scarring and loss of vision. This project will identify the factors that are needed to maintain lens epithelial cells in a normal state so that they can act as stem cells that can be induced to regenerate a new lens t ....Cataract extraction is the most common surgical procedure conducted in our hospitals today. Unfortunately, a complication of surgery is the development of a secondary cataract. This is caused by residual lens epithelial cells undergoing a wound healing response that leads to severe scarring and loss of vision. This project will identify the factors that are needed to maintain lens epithelial cells in a normal state so that they can act as stem cells that can be induced to regenerate a new lens that can transmit and focus light as normal.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of p14ARF intracellular trafficking pathways. Over 3500 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed in NSW each year, and one of the most important proteins involved in suppressing melanoma initiation or growth is p14ARF. This project will characterise the movement and functions of this protein with the aim of identifying novel targets for more effective drug therapies.
Controlling apoptotic cell death in health and disease. Regulating how and when cells die is crucial for the development and maintenance of a healthy body and mind. This project will investigate the proteins that are responsible for controlling cell death with the view to identifying novel ways to target these proteins for the treatment of disorders such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease and autoimmunity.
Controlling apoptotic cell death in health and disease. Regulating how and when cells die is crucial for the development and maintenance of a healthy body and mind. This project will investigate the proteins that are responsible for controlling cell death with the view to identifying novel ways to target these proteins for the treatment of disorders such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease and autoimmunity.
Investigation of the biology of insulin-like growth factor 1 and its derivatives for the development of new therapeutics. This project will investigate the biology of insulin-like growth factor 1, a key molecule in growth, development and, in particular, the wound healing process. Its success will lead to improved treatments for non-healing (chronic) wounds and, potentially, new anti-cancer treatments.
Understanding the potency and role of individual stem cells in the skin using Rainbow technology. To renew itself, the skin and its components rely on the activity of stem cells. This project will define more precisely the role of each individual stem cell by labelling them with a unique colour and following its fate. This project has the potential to change our current view on how the skin maintains and repairs itself.
Targeting mitochondria with mitocans to treat cancer: mechanistic aspects. Mitochondria are the power-house of the cell and also the reservoir of proteins causing the demise of cancer cells, therefore suppressing tumour progression. This project proposes a novel way to modify certain compounds, increasing their level in mitochondria in order to maximise their anti-cancer effect.
A role for the actin cytoskeleton in suppression of prion pathology in yeast. The discovery that proteins as well as DNA carry genetic information is leading to a re-think of the mechanisms that program cell behaviour. There is a link between proteins that suppress cancer and protein inheritance. This project explores how heritable changes in proteins control cell behaviour and the implications of this for the origin of cancer.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100538
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,000.00
Summary
Understanding the role of miRNAs in the biology of ageing muscle. Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body and plays a vital role in maintaining independent living and social interaction. As it ages, skeletal muscle loses its ability to build up new muscle proteins. However, the principles underlying the biology of skeletal muscle ageing are not well understood. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are essential regulators of skeletal muscle biology. Whether they play a role in the ageing process and how ....Understanding the role of miRNAs in the biology of ageing muscle. Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body and plays a vital role in maintaining independent living and social interaction. As it ages, skeletal muscle loses its ability to build up new muscle proteins. However, the principles underlying the biology of skeletal muscle ageing are not well understood. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are essential regulators of skeletal muscle biology. Whether they play a role in the ageing process and how they regulate muscle protein synthesis as we age has not been investigated. This project aims to identify the MiRNA species involved in muscle protein synthesis and will provide a better understanding of the biology of ageing skeletal muscle.Read moreRead less
Characterisation Of Cooperation Between Cell Polarity Regulators And Oncogenes In Tumourigenesis Using Drosophila
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,773.00
Summary
Cancers affect 1-3 people at some stage during their lifetime and therefore is of major importance to medical science. Cancers arise through the accumulation of mutations that alter normal cell proliferation control, differentiation, cell death or cell movement. In addition, recent studies have shown that the tumour environment (the interaction between cells) can be a major factor in the development of the cancer. However, this is difficult to study in mammalian models. In this proposal we use t ....Cancers affect 1-3 people at some stage during their lifetime and therefore is of major importance to medical science. Cancers arise through the accumulation of mutations that alter normal cell proliferation control, differentiation, cell death or cell movement. In addition, recent studies have shown that the tumour environment (the interaction between cells) can be a major factor in the development of the cancer. However, this is difficult to study in mammalian models. In this proposal we use the genetically amenable, model system, the vinegar fly Drosophila, to investigate the development of tumours using defined mutations. To explore mechanisms of tumourigenesis in Drosophila, we are using a system where we can make patches (clones) of mutant tissue within the context of normal tissue, a system that more faithfully mimics the development of mammalian cancer. We have observed that certain genes required for cell shape, (cell polarity genes, such as scrib) are important in limiting the action of oncogenes (tumour- causing genes, such as activated alleles of Ras) in the development of tumours in Drosophila. Thus, mutants in cell polarity genes cooperate with oncogenic mutations to result in the generation of invasive tumours. In a genetic screen, we have identified further genes that act in a similar manner to cooperate with mutants in scrib or activated Ras. In this proposal we seek to characterise these genes in tumourigenesis and to explore their mechanism of action. The expected outcome of this project is to elucidate novel genes and mechanisms of tumourigenesis in the context of a whole organism. Due to the conservation of cell proliferation and signalling proteins, this proposal is relevant to understanding human cancer.Read moreRead less