The WHO estimates there were ~189 million clinical cases & 584,000 malaria-related deaths in 2013. This translates to ~1,600 child deaths daily. There is no licensed malaria vaccine & all available drugs are associated with resistant parasites. This enormous health issue is driving the search for new therapies. We address this issue by identifying new drug candidates for malaria prevention, with unique modes of action to treatment drugs in order to overcome issues of parasite drug resistance.
Once treatable infections are becoming deadly because bacteria are developing broad antibiotic resistance. New medicines are urgently needed. Microbes themselves are the richest known source of new antibiotics but finding the 'good bugs' is like finding a needle in a microbial haystack. This project will use state-of-the art science to screen a previously overlooked source of rich microbial biodiversity and find new antibiotics.
Validating CaMKK2 As A Rational Treatment Target For Bipolar Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,175.00
Summary
Bipolar disorder is a disabling, chronic mental illness that profoundly impairs the ability of affected individuals to function in daily life. Existing treatments for bipolar disorder are inadequate and lack the necessary efficacy and tolerability required for long-term therapy. This project will validate the enzyme, CaMKK2, as a rational treatment target for bipolar disorder, which will guide the development of more effective and safer drugs to improve patient outcomes.
Activation Of BMP4 Signalling To Inhibit Breast Cancer Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$748,742.00
Summary
The spread of cancer cells to other organs is a common cause of breast cancer-related death in women. Current therapies for advanced breast cancer are often palliative since the secondary tumours become resistant to the chemotherapy. Here, we are using preclinical models of advanced breast cancer to develop a treatment that should be effective in patients with secondary tumours and should reduce the risk of dying of this disease.
In 2013 there were ~200 million clinical cases of malaria, causing ~600,000 deaths. All antimalarial drugs are now associated with malaria parasite resistance. Thus, new therapies are urgently needed, including new drugs to prevent this disease. We have made the exciting discovery that an existing antimalarial drug can kill malaria parasites in a unique, previously unknown, manner. Here, we will investigate how this occurs and develop new drug candidates for malaria prevention.
Viral Infection And TGFbeta Impair Glucocorticoid Activity In Epithelial Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$617,699.00
Summary
Chronic inflammatory lung diseases like asthma and smokers lung are treated with combinations of anti-inflammatory drugs. Powerful anti-inflammatory types of steroid drugs are used in more severe disease. Even these powerful drugs are sometimes not effective enough. Our work is developing an understanding of how inflammation limits the anti-inflammatory effects of steroids and we are devising ways to overcome this with new drugs. We aim to improve treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, espe ....Chronic inflammatory lung diseases like asthma and smokers lung are treated with combinations of anti-inflammatory drugs. Powerful anti-inflammatory types of steroid drugs are used in more severe disease. Even these powerful drugs are sometimes not effective enough. Our work is developing an understanding of how inflammation limits the anti-inflammatory effects of steroids and we are devising ways to overcome this with new drugs. We aim to improve treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, especially those affecting the lung.Read moreRead less
Elucidating The Cellular Processes That Are Critical For P53 Mediated Tumour Suppression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,016,108.00
Summary
p53 is a tumour suppressor gene that is mutated in ~50% of human cancers. Mutations in p53 cause development of cancer and render malignant cells resistant to chemotherapy. We have identified genes regulated by p53 that appear critical for its tumour suppressive function. In this project, we will use innovative novel genetic tools to discover the cellular and biochemical functions of these genes. The ultimate goal of our studies is to identify novel targets for anti-cancer therapy.
Development Of Small Molecule Modulators Of Apoptosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,558.00
Summary
Cancers rely on the deregulation of key cellular pathways. Along with biological and genetic tools, small molecules are powerful probes to understand these mechanisms. During the course of this research program, we will develop new and drug-like molecules that reinstate the cell death process to combat malignancies. This research will bring important advances for potential chemotherapies and create probes to better understand the biology of programmed cell death processes.
High-Throughput Discovery Of Synergistic Drug Combinations For Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,526,568.00
Summary
Treatment outcomes for patients with metastatic bowel cancer remain poor, with most tumours developing resistance within 24 months. A key problem is that cancers are genetically diverse, with some cells inevitably resistant to any given treatment. This study aims to discover effective drug combinations targeting distinct essential tumour cell functions through robotics-based pairwise testing of known drugs on bowel cancer cell lines representing the genetic diversity of the disease.
Discovering And Targeting Genes Regulating Skeletal Muscle Function, Metabolism, And Adaptations To Exercise Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Muscle wasting and decreased in mitochondrial function due to ageing or lack of physical activity are associated with reduced quality of life. The overarching aim is to develop a unique research program focusing on targeting specific genes, and to discover novel genes regulating muscle wasting and mitochondrial (dis)function. I anticipate this approach to assist in the development of targeted and personalised prevention and therapy for diseases associated with muscle (dis)function.