A link between periodontal disease, inflammation of the gums, and cardiovascular disease has been suggested in recent studies, however the evidence remains uncertain. Supporting the link are data that inflammation predisposes to atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Patients in the PERICAR study will have blood tests before and after periodontal treatment so that researchers can study whether treatment reduces factors in the blood that have previously been shown to indicate the risk of cardiovascul ....A link between periodontal disease, inflammation of the gums, and cardiovascular disease has been suggested in recent studies, however the evidence remains uncertain. Supporting the link are data that inflammation predisposes to atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Patients in the PERICAR study will have blood tests before and after periodontal treatment so that researchers can study whether treatment reduces factors in the blood that have previously been shown to indicate the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study will provide further clues to this potentially very important and treatable relationship.Read moreRead less
Validation And Replication Of Genes Associated With Common Human Disease Using Australian Twin Families
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$921,224.00
Summary
The European Network for Genetic and Genomic Epidemiology (ENGAGE) aims to translate the wealth of data emerging from large-scale research efforts in molecular epidemiology into information of direct relevance to future advances in clinical medicine. ENGAGE will do this through the integration of very large datasets already available from a substantial number of large and well-characterised samples. The resulting ENGAGE resource will represent a research investment >€100M (>AU$160M) and pr ....The European Network for Genetic and Genomic Epidemiology (ENGAGE) aims to translate the wealth of data emerging from large-scale research efforts in molecular epidemiology into information of direct relevance to future advances in clinical medicine. ENGAGE will do this through the integration of very large datasets already available from a substantial number of large and well-characterised samples. The resulting ENGAGE resource will represent a research investment >€100M (>AU$160M) and provide unprecedented power to discover disease and trait susceptibility genes. QIMR will contribute 12,000 twins for ENGAGE joint analyses and provide analytical expertise in the analysis of disease and genetic data related to lifestyle and metabolic traits, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and migraine risk factors. Our laboratory will also perform vital further genetic studies to establish the causal relationship between the genetic variants concerned and the traits of interest. Most importantly, our direct participation will allow the translation of these findings into the Australian population and clinical arena.Read moreRead less
The principle objective of the proposed project is to determine the molecular, cellular extracellular matrix pathology of chondrodysplasia phenotypes which result from mutations in a variety of different gene products that are important for normal bone development. To achieve our objective the Eurogrow consortium has developed an extensive series of mouse models of chondrodysplasias that closely mimic the relevant human phenotype. The consortium will use a multidisciplinary systems biology appro ....The principle objective of the proposed project is to determine the molecular, cellular extracellular matrix pathology of chondrodysplasia phenotypes which result from mutations in a variety of different gene products that are important for normal bone development. To achieve our objective the Eurogrow consortium has developed an extensive series of mouse models of chondrodysplasias that closely mimic the relevant human phenotype. The consortium will use a multidisciplinary systems biology approach to determine the molecular mechanisms that underpin the pathophysiology of these distinct chondrodysplasias. From this approach we can expect to identify common disease mechanisms and learn general principles about genotype-phenotype correlations in chondrodysplasia phenotypes. The NHMRC-EU grant is to fund a consortium (Eurogrow) of 10 EU research groups (led by the University of Manchester) along with my research group at the MCRI to conduct these integrated studies.Read moreRead less
Use Of The Norfolk Island Genetic Isolate For Disease Gene Mapping
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$978,500.00
Summary
This gene mapping study will use a unique founder effect population to investigate two major public health disorders. We aim to identify genes that play a role in migraine and in cardiovascular disease, using a population from Norfolk Island. The Norfolk Island community is a population of ~1200 permanent residents, the majority of whom are direct descendents of 18th century English Bounty mutineers and Polynesian women. We will undertake a full genome scan to identify migraine gene loci and QTL ....This gene mapping study will use a unique founder effect population to investigate two major public health disorders. We aim to identify genes that play a role in migraine and in cardiovascular disease, using a population from Norfolk Island. The Norfolk Island community is a population of ~1200 permanent residents, the majority of whom are direct descendents of 18th century English Bounty mutineers and Polynesian women. We will undertake a full genome scan to identify migraine gene loci and QTL that influence cardiovascular disease using samples from this population isolate.Read moreRead less
Neonatal Immunization With Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine In Papua New Guinea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,181,966.00
Summary
One million children die every year of pneumococcal (Pnc) disease, the majority in the third world. Many die in early infancy and babies may benefit from immunisation with a Pnc conjugate vaccine (PrevenarTM) at birth. The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Insatiate of Medical Research; Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and the Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia, will collaborate to closely examine the safety of this approach, particularly with regard to impact on the dev ....One million children die every year of pneumococcal (Pnc) disease, the majority in the third world. Many die in early infancy and babies may benefit from immunisation with a Pnc conjugate vaccine (PrevenarTM) at birth. The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Insatiate of Medical Research; Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and the Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia, will collaborate to closely examine the safety of this approach, particularly with regard to impact on the development of immunity and response to other vaccines given to infants. This study will also provide a unique opportunity for training of PNG and Australian scientists in both countries; transfer state-of-the-art immunological technology and stimulate further collaborations on respiratory infections in the region.Read moreRead less
Novel Approaches To Pathogenesis, Diagnosis &treatment Of Autoimmune Diseases Based On New Insights Into Thymus-dependen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,045,422.00
Summary
An individual relies upon their immune system to protect against invasion by hostile organisms. The system usually works well. Invading agents (the 'non-self') are detected and attacked by the immune system's patrolling killer T cells. These normally beneficial cells are called T cells because they were formed and educated in an organ called the thymus, which kick-starts our immune system in childhood, but falls into inactivity by adolescence. Sometimes the education system in the thymus goes wr ....An individual relies upon their immune system to protect against invasion by hostile organisms. The system usually works well. Invading agents (the 'non-self') are detected and attacked by the immune system's patrolling killer T cells. These normally beneficial cells are called T cells because they were formed and educated in an organ called the thymus, which kick-starts our immune system in childhood, but falls into inactivity by adolescence. Sometimes the education system in the thymus goes wrong and it releases T cells that mistakenly attack 'self' instead of 'non-self'. This causes autoimmune diseases, such as type1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The Euro-Thymaide project aims to determine why and how self-attacking T cells are mistakenly released from the thymus into the body. Usually such errant T cells are detected and destroyed within the thymus, before they have the opportunity to escape and cause autoimmune diseases. The ultimate objective is to learn about the thymus recognition process and help the immune system detect and destroy faulty T cells that patrol the body, thereby preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases.Read moreRead less