Defining The Role Of Nedd4 In Neural Crest Cell Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$541,565.00
Summary
Neural crest cells are specialised stem cells that give rise to many tissues and organs during embryonic development. We recently identified an essential role for a regulatory protein in neural crest cells. Our research is aimed at understanding how this protein influences the growth of structures such as the heart and facial skeleton. Understanding these processes underpins the ultimate goal of implementing diagnostic and preventative medicine for highly prevalent congenital birth defects.
The Molecular And Cellular Trajectories Of Clonal Dendritic Cell Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$826,742.00
Summary
Dendritic cells (DCs) are a blood cell type with a crucial role in our immune system. They are made in the bone marrow from stem and progenitor cells. How each of these cells individually makes DCs is complex and dynamic. We seek to understand this using cutting edge technologies to track each cell’s step-by-step role in this important process. This knowledge may help the use of DCs in the treatment of several diseases including autoimmunity and cancer.
Autophagy And Growth Signalling In Developmentally Programmed Cell Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,133.00
Summary
Cell death is essential for normal development and deregulated cell death results in many diseases. We have recently discovered a potentially novel mechanism of developmental cell death that involves autophagy (a type of self-degradation). Our studies will now examine the mechanism of autophagic cell death and study how cell growth regulation is integrated in this pathway. This will provide us important knowledge into the complex role of autophagy in cancer.
Characterisation And Development Of Type-2 NKT Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$853,885.00
Summary
Humans defend themselves from foreign pathogens by mounting a protective immune response. Type-2 NKT cells recognise foreign lipid molecules and play a key role in immunity. This project is designed to understand to how Type-2 NKT cells develop within the body, how they recognise lipid molecules and how they carry out their immune functions. This work will have important implications in understanding the role of NKT cells in human health and disease.
Microtubule Severing: A Role In Mammalian Oocyte And Embryo Viability?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,251.00
Summary
In all cells, cell division is controlled by a microtubule based structure known as the spindle. Abnormal function of this spindle leads to loss and gain of chromosomes that in oocytes causes early embryo loss and in cells of the body it causes cancer and cell death. We will investigate a family of proteins that modify microtubules and explore the role they play in ensuring cell division happnens safely.
The Hippo Pathway, Neural Stem Cells And Brain Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,137.00
Summary
During organism development, the brain grows to the right size without overgrowing. Neural stem cells are key regulators of brain size. We will define how the Hippo pathway crosstalks with nutrition-induced signals to control proliferation of neural stem cells and brain size. As well as producing important insights into normal growth, we will increase our understanding of brain diseases associated with aberrant brain growth, such as cancer.
Interaction Between Moz And PRC1 In Defining Epigenetic States And Gene Expression Patterns
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,271.00
Summary
Regulation of gene expression is implicated in all disease processes. Aberrant gene expression is particularly associated with tumour formation. In this project we determine the relationship between an oncogene MOZ and another oncogene BMI1. Together these proteins regulate one of the most important systems controlling gene expression at the level of chromatin structure.
Controlling The Pro-survival Protein Mcl-1: Discovering Novel Opportunities And Developing Innovative Approaches To Target Mcl-1 For Treating Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$749,415.00
Summary
Cancer cells are often sustained by evading cell death. Thus, a promising approach to develop new cancer treatments aims to restore their ability to commit cell suicide. Proteins related to Bcl-2 are, in this regard, attractive targets because they are prominent barriers to cell death. This project seeks to uncover how a Bcl-2 relative, Mcl-1, is regulated, and to explore how the mechanisms that underpin these processes can be targeted in cancers (melanomas, leukemias) that it sustains.
Regulation Of Neural Progenitor Cell Self-renewal By The RNA-binding Protein ZFP36L1 During Development And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,401.00
Summary
The timely differentiation of neural stem cells is critical during development, and the unrestrained proliferation of neural stem cells in the adult can lead to deadly brain cancers such as glioma. At present our understanding of the key molecules that regulate neural stem cell behaviour during these processes remains limited. In this proposal we will investigate the molecular determinants underpinning neural stem cell biology, both within the developing brain, and within glioma.
How Can Trafficking Of The Tumour Suppressor PTEN Affect Normal And Abnormal Brain Development?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$589,977.00
Summary
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is estimated to affect 1 in every 100 children. Currently we have no medical treatments to cure the disease. PTEN is a tumor suppressor that has been genetically linked to autism as it functions to inhibit cell growth that can result in abnormal brain development. In this grant we aim to study the location and function of PTEN and how failure of this system can result in neurodevelopmental diseases such as autism.