During injury or infection, our body’s immune system protects us by launching inflammation. But uncontrolled inflammation drives common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's. This research program will reveal how the body deactivates inflammasomes – protein complexes at the heart of inflammation and disease – so we can design better drugs for treating patients with inflammation-driven disease.
During injury or infection, our body’s immune system protects us by launching inflammation. But uncontrolled inflammation drives common diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. This project will reveal how the body deactivates inflammasomes - protein complexes at the heart of inflammation and disease – so we can design better strategies for treating patients with inflammation-driven disease.
Role For Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV In The Innate Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
The innate immune system is the bodyÍs first line of defence in fighting off infections by invading organisms. An inappropriate innate immune response can lead to the development of several inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. A malfunctioning innate immune response has been identified in children with IBD. This project will determine the role of a unique enzyme called DPIV in the development of innate immune responses and its potential as a therapeutic target for IBD.
Structural And Functional Studies Of The Human IL-3 Receptor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
This proposal will study a protein hormone that is implicated in blood cell cancers and inflammatory diseases and for which current treatments are inadequate. We will determine how the hormone receptor becomes activated, identify and characterise new agents that block this activation. This information will help in the development of new and highly specific drugs for use in certain cancers in inflammatory diseases.
Dynamics And Mechanisms Of Neutrophil Migration During Tissue Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$529,577.00
Summary
Neutrophil granulocytes are central mediators of inflammatory conditions and infections. It is currently unclear how neutrophils navigate through inflamed tissues and how they detect damaged cells and/or pathogens. This proposal will use cutting-edge multi-photon microscopy to dissect the dynamics and mechanisms of neutrophil behaviour in real time in living animals. These experiments will provide a new understanding of the development of inflammatory diseases.
In spite of significant progress, inflammatory diseases remain poorly understood and difficult to treat and are of growing public health importance. This fellowship application is for translational research on improving treatment for inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. It will link the senior clinical appointments of Prof Ian Wicks in Rheumatology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital with his appointment as Head of the Inflammation Division at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of M ....In spite of significant progress, inflammatory diseases remain poorly understood and difficult to treat and are of growing public health importance. This fellowship application is for translational research on improving treatment for inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. It will link the senior clinical appointments of Prof Ian Wicks in Rheumatology at the Royal Melbourne Hospital with his appointment as Head of the Inflammation Division at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.Read moreRead less
THE ROLE OF THE TETRASPANINS CD37 AND CD82 IN LEUKOCYTE MIGRATION
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,902.00
Summary
White blood cells must be able to migrate to fight infection. For instance, immune responses are started by the migration of one type of white blood cells to the lymph node. Also, once activated white blood cells migrate out of the circulation to the site of infection where they can kill bacteria and viruses. This grant studies 2 proteins that control white blood cell migration. These proteins may one day be targets for drugs that either promote immunity or reduce inflammation.
Mechanisms Of Novel TLR9 Mediated Intraocular Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,244.00
Summary
Corneal opacities and scarring due to microbial and parasitic infections are a major cause of blindness globally. Novel studies in our lab have shown that topical application of bacterial/viral DNA alone to the cornea can cause previously unrecognised inflammation in the retina. Understanding the mechanisms of this retinal inflammation and how to block it may help in the design of novel treatments for a number of blinding conditions.
A Novel Macrophage Lineage In Inflammation And Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,857.00
Summary
Macrophages are an important haematopoietic cell type that has been implicated in inflammatory and cancerous diseases. In our preliminary work we have discovered a new macrophage subset, termed the perivascular macrophage, in breast cancer. The aim of this proposal is to investigate the origin of these cells, and the role they play in breast cancer. This will tell us how we might be able to manipulate the functions of these cells in order to curtail breast cancer progression.
PB1-F2 Is Critical To Influenza A Virus Pathogenicity Through Activation Of The Inflammasome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$663,919.00
Summary
Fatal Influenza A virus infections are excessive inflammation. We identified the IAV protein PB1-F2 as critical in driving excessive inflammation via activating the host inflammasome complex. Our study evaluates PB1-F2-mediated inflammation contribution to inflammatory responses. Identifying PB1-F2 in emerging IAV strains is invaluable in aiding health policy makers to quickly assess fatal IAV pandemics. Our research will potentially identify treatment targets towards reducing this inflammation