Understanding The Role Of PI 3-kinase Mutations In Gastrointestinal Tumourigenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$283,880.00
Summary
Mutations in the PIK3CA gene are frequently found in bowel cancers but it remains unclear exactly how these mutations are involved in cancer development. We will exploit a unique mouse model to explore the role of PIK3CA mutations in the initiation, progression and-or metastasis of gastrointestinal cancers. This work will provide critical new insights into the biology of PIK3CA mutations and lead to the development of better models for the testing of new anti-cancer therapies.
Studies On The Tumour-associated PIK3CA(H1047R) Mutation Using In Vitro And In Vivo Models Of Breast And Ovarian Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,312.00
Summary
PIK3CA mutations are frequently found in breast and ovarian cancers but how they cause cancer is not clear. We will exploit a unique mouse model to investigate the functional effects of PIK3CA mutations in cells and their role in cancer development. Understanding the mechanisms by which PIK3CA mutations regulate cell function and drive tumour growth will allow the rationale design of novel anti-cancer agents that specifically target this important cancer pathway.
The Role Of Muscle And The Application Of Muscle-cell Therapies In Bone Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,936.00
Summary
Muscle is often close to bone and we have found that muscle cells can directly contribute to bone repair. We are examining importance of muscle cells in orthopaedic repair and whether new methods for mobilizing muscle cells can improve healing.
Characterisation Of The Tumour Suppressor Function Of Caspase-2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,096.00
Summary
Aberrant cell death (apoptosis) is associated with many diseases including cancer. Apoptosis is mediated by a group of enzymes called caspases. Recently we have discovered that one of these enzymes, caspase-2, acts as a tumour suppressor. We now wish to validate this finding in several preclinical models of cancer and understand precisely how caspase-2 works to safeguard cells against cancer development. These studies will help better understand cancer and ways to treat it.
Apoptosis And Autophagy In Developmentally Programmed Cell Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$502,437.00
Summary
Cell death is essential for sculpting tissues and organs in developing foetus and deregulated cell death results in many diseases. To treat disorders that result from aberrant cell death, we need to understand the control of cell death during development. We will use a vinegar fly model to study cell death modalities in development. By doing this we hope to uncover new knowledge important for human biology and identify new molecules that may be important for understanding and treating disease.
Novel Therapeutic Interventions For The Orthopaedic Complications Of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$628,422.00
Summary
Children with the genetic disease NF1 can develop fractures that fail to unite and this can lead to amputation. We have advanced models of NF1-deficient bone cells and fracture healing that we will use to test new pharmaceutical treatments for NF1.
Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1): Pharmacological And Molecular Insights Into Its Role In Brain Protection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$293,229.00
Summary
At present, there are no effective therapies for reducing brain damage which can occur after acute brain insults including birth asphyxia. This project aims to study whether increasing a naturally occurring protective protein (HIF) in the brain can minimize brain damage in a model of perinatal brain injury. We plan to validate HIF as a novel therapeutic target for reduce brain injury and promote brain repair processes.
Pathogenic Mechanisms Common To All Subtypes Of Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,294.00
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegerative disease of unknown cause and without effective treatment. While there are a number of clinical and pathological subtypes of FTD all have abnormal protein deposition. In this project we will investigate using brain tissue from patients with FTD, transgenic mice and culture models the cellular mechanisms which underly the protein depsotion. In addition, we will look at the brain's response to injury and investigate modulation of this response.