Epilepsy is a devastating disease with many patients poorly treated. We have identified a novel ion channel target in the brain that reduces seizure susceptibility. The aim of this proposal is to fully explore this target in a number of epilepsy mouse models using both pharmacology and molecular techniques.
Identifying Brain Pathways Responsible For Stress Induced Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$895,663.00
Summary
Obesity-associated diseases are leading causes of death and are expected to increase as the obesity epidemic worsens. New evidence also shows that stress, an ever-increasing factor of life, can when combined with high caloric food lead and accelerate the development of obesity. The results from this study will help to identify new agents that may help reduce body weight and fat mass particular under conditions of increased stress.
Novel Therapeutic Approaches To Ovarian Clear Cell Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,920.00
Summary
Our study aims to develop novel therapies for clear cell ovarian cancer, a disease that is generally resistant to conventional therapies. We have found unexpected parallels between kidney cancer and ovarian clear cell cancer, and this has been used to better treat patients. This study investigates the underlying molecular changes the control ovarian clear cell cancer growth.
6% of Australian men are infertile. Of these cases 50% are thought to be genetic in origin. Within this project we will replicate high-confidence genetic variants associated with human male infertility in the mouse. Doing so will allow the assignment of definitive genotype-phenotype correlations and the formulation of high confidence advice for clinicians and patients. It will also provide a means to define the mechanism of action and the tools for future pro-fertility treatments.
Deciphering Mechanisms Of Disease Evolution In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$845,093.00
Summary
In many patients, cancers are ever-changing, even after they have formed. This explains why many cancers can spread beyond the point of cure by surgery and why they can become resistant to treatments. This project will use patient melanomas and laboratory modelling to understand how melanomas change as they grow and spread. The results will be used to identify the nature of evolutionary changes in cancer in order to predict and even exploit them in treatment.
Integrative Bioinformatic And Experimental Approaches To Define Novel Roles For Genes That Typically Regulate Axon Guidance In Pancreatic Cancer Initiation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,955.00
Summary
Early detection and intervention would have a dramatic effect on improving the outcomes for pancreatic cancer. This however relies on understanding how the cancer is initiated. New analysis of more than 100 tumours identified aberrations in genes that typically regulate how the nervous system is positioned during development. We want to use novel bioinformatic approaches and a unique experimental method with cells in culture to rapidly and accurately find out which of these genes drives a normal ....Early detection and intervention would have a dramatic effect on improving the outcomes for pancreatic cancer. This however relies on understanding how the cancer is initiated. New analysis of more than 100 tumours identified aberrations in genes that typically regulate how the nervous system is positioned during development. We want to use novel bioinformatic approaches and a unique experimental method with cells in culture to rapidly and accurately find out which of these genes drives a normal pancreatic cell to become a tumour cell.Read moreRead less
Obesity is a major global public health concern and there is a desperate need to identify new targets to treat obesity. By targeting the lesser investigated CART pathway and identifying the elusive CART receptor this could make a significant inroad to the understanding of the causes of appetite control and the development of obesity.
Role Of ZEB/NuRD Interactions In Haematopoiesis And Lymphoid Malignancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$810,497.00
Summary
Cancers of the blood arise from (epi)genetic changes that enable blood cells to bypass normal survival and growth checkpoints, leading to accumulation of additional mutations that drive full-scale transformation. This grant aims to understand the role of specific transcription factors (that control disease causing genes to be expressed) and how we can use a novel class of epigenetic drugs together with inhibition of these factors to selectively get rid of cancer causing blood cells in the body.
The Role Of Necroptosis In Development, The Immune System And Autoimmune Pathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$454,105.00
Summary
Programmed cell death plays critical roles in development and cell-turnover in the adult. Defects in this process can cause cancer or autoimmune diseases. We will use genetic and biochemical approaches to define the individual roles of necroptosis, a newly described cell death process, and those overlapping with apoptosis in normal development and cell-turnover as well as in cancer and autoimmune diseases. The objective of this work is to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention i ....Programmed cell death plays critical roles in development and cell-turnover in the adult. Defects in this process can cause cancer or autoimmune diseases. We will use genetic and biochemical approaches to define the individual roles of necroptosis, a newly described cell death process, and those overlapping with apoptosis in normal development and cell-turnover as well as in cancer and autoimmune diseases. The objective of this work is to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention in cancer or immunopathology.Read moreRead less
A Novel Role For Proteolysis In Promoting Inner Ear Cell Injury And Hearing Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$972,818.00
Summary
Nearly 40% of hearing loss is attributable to traumatic noise exposure. This project will test a new idea that cells in the inner ear are damaged and die via noise-induced proteolysis, and investigate whether a similar mechanism operates during age-related hearing loss. It will open new avenues for therapies to preserve hearing where trauma is unavoidable, or has occurred through accident or incident.