Sensitive, Rapid And Accurate Detection Of The Emergence Of Neuraminidase Inhibitor Resistance By Real-time PCR, LCR And
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$118,875.00
Summary
An influenza pandemic causing by highly pathogenic H5N1 virus may occur in the near future. As a vaccine for H5N1 will not be available in the foreseeable months, antiviral drugs are the only possible choice for prophylaxis and treatment. Currently only two drugs have been clinically proven to be effective against H5N1 strain and the emergence of drug resistant in H5N1 influenza virus has been reported which may significantly hamper the treatment. Understanding and monitoring the emergence of th ....An influenza pandemic causing by highly pathogenic H5N1 virus may occur in the near future. As a vaccine for H5N1 will not be available in the foreseeable months, antiviral drugs are the only possible choice for prophylaxis and treatment. Currently only two drugs have been clinically proven to be effective against H5N1 strain and the emergence of drug resistant in H5N1 influenza virus has been reported which may significantly hamper the treatment. Understanding and monitoring the emergence of these drug resistant strains during local spreading will be critical in managing an H5N1 influenza pandemic in Australia. In the proposed project, we will develop important diagnostic tools using our world leading Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) technology for the monitoring of the development and possible transmission of drug resistant influenza strains. Upon finishing the project, at lease three sensitive diagnostic methods will be developed for the detection of the emergence of drug resistance at the very early stage.Read moreRead less
Stress-induced Genomic Instability As A Driver Of Adaptive Responses In Human Cancer Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$690,426.00
Summary
Growing experimental evidence suggests human cancer cells use evolutionary conserved programs to regulate their mutation rates in response to pharmacological agents, accelerating adaptation and the emergence of resistance. The purpose of our study is to identify the common molecular pathways and genetic mechanisms driving the regulation of mutation rates. Targeting of these pathways using a new generation of “anti-evolution” drugs is an attractive possibility for novel therapeutic approaches.
Identification Of Novel Genes Influencing Development Of Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,920.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is usually associated with obesity and is often part of a wider disturbance affecting an individual's energy metabolism. The number of affected people with type 2 diabetes has trebled since 1981 in Australia and is still increasing. Apart from individual suffering, this presents a major public health burden for the country (approx $3 billion annually). Currently available lifestyle based and pharmaceutical therapies are inadequate to control the increasing numbers of affected ind ....Type 2 diabetes is usually associated with obesity and is often part of a wider disturbance affecting an individual's energy metabolism. The number of affected people with type 2 diabetes has trebled since 1981 in Australia and is still increasing. Apart from individual suffering, this presents a major public health burden for the country (approx $3 billion annually). Currently available lifestyle based and pharmaceutical therapies are inadequate to control the increasing numbers of affected individuals. Unfortunately the cause of disease is poorly understood, although genetic factors are known to be important, in other words it runs in the family. This project proposes to identify some of these factors (genes) and how they contribute to the disease. Using molecular flags on the DNA (like DNA fingerprinting) we have previously found that a small region on chromosome 12 is likely to carry one or more of these disease genes. But there are over 100 genes in the region. To help choose the most likely candidates first for testing, we have developed an automated computer database searching program ranked the genes based on what is already known about them. We have also taken a large number of physiological measures in a large group of people. Some of these measures are controlled by the same chromosome 12 region - thus to improve our chances of finding the genes quickly we will look at those that change the most between people with diabetes and people without diabetes. In this project we shall investigate the 20 genes most likely affect diabetes based on changes in physiological measures and what is already known about them. A successful finding means we will know more about the mechanism of disease development and be able to better develop new therapies for treatment and prevention. If none of these genes are the culprit, we would continue examination of the next set of genes likely to be involved and so on until we are successful.Read moreRead less
Improving Malaria Elimination Strategies With Genomics: Tackling The Unique Problems Posed By Plasmodium Vivax, And P. Falciparum Drug Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,193.00
Summary
Malaria parasites are becoming resistant to drugs, and some types can avoid treatment by hiding in the liver and recurring months later. Variation in human genes can also mean that some drugs are dangerous to certain people, or won’t work. DNA sequencing will allow us to understand the interplay between parasite and host genetics and the efficacy of drugs in the population, allowing us to provide ‘personalised’ treatments in that region.
Drug Resistance In DNA Repair Defective Ovarian Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$122,032.00
Summary
Ovarian cancer is a major cause of cancer death in women because current treatments are inadequate. Half of aggressive ovarian cancers have abnormalities in DNA repair and respond to new PARP inhibitor therapy, yet even then the cancer often recurs. I will use a new model to study human ovarian cancers in mice. My focus will be understanding resistance to PARP inhibitors in individual ovarian cancers and designing approaches to overcome this resistance.