Antigen Presentation, Recognition And The Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$15,780,848.00
Summary
This program focuses on understanding the development of immune response to viruses and other infectious agents using a broad array of techniques to dissect the function of various immune cell types and to explore the relationship between structure and function of important cell surface molecules. These studies will improve our ability to design new generation vaccines for combating infectious diseases, controlling cancer, or limiting autoimmune diseases like diabetes.
Finding New Evidence Based Therapies For Treating Heart Disease And Stimulating Regeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$11,088,182.00
Summary
Heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in our society. This interactive team of clinicians and basic scientists will exploit the latest advances in genome technology and stem cell biology to gain greater insights into the genetic basis of heart disease, elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cardiac function and disease and translate these insights into the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of heart disease.
Hepatitis C affects a quarter of a million Australians, causing insidious but progressive liver disease which culminates in liver failure or cancer. There is no vaccine and prevention programs have limited effectiveness, but new antiviral therapies now offer high rates of cure. This Program will evaluate strategies to improve the health of those affected and prevent new infections by better understanding of the virus and the body’s immune response, including scarring and liver cancer formation.
Antigen Presentation, Recognition And The Immune Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$14,927,045.00
Summary
This program focuses on understanding the development of immunity during infection or inflammatory diseases using a broad array of techniques to dissect the function of various immune cell types and to explore the relationship between structure and function of important cell surface molecules. These studies will improve our ability to design new generation vaccines for combating infectious diseases, controlling cancer, or limiting autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.
Biomedical research now routinely generates massive, complex datasets using next generation sequencing platforms and other high throughput “omics” technologies. Our unique program will develop powerful computational and statistical methods to analyse such data. We will apply these methods to a range of human diseases including cancer, and infectious and genetics disease, contributing to deeper insight into pathological states.
Human Epilepsy: Understanding Biology To Improve Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$16,657,948.00
Summary
Our team of neurologists, molecular geneticists, physiologists and brain imaging specialists and leads the world in the discovery of the genetic causes of epilepsy. Through this work we will identify genes underlying epilepsy and study how genetic variations result in the development of seizures. Advanced brain imaging will be used to understand the effects of genetic variation on brain structure and function. This study may lead to new diagnostic methods and treatments for epilepsy.
Depressive And Bipolar Disorders: Causes, Presentation And Treatment Innovations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$7,100,605.00
Summary
Depression and bipolar disorder are two of Australia’s leading causes of disease burden, with 3-4 million Australians affected during their lifetime. However, despite being such a serious health burden, there are major shortcomings to current understanding and management. This research program aims to further our knowledge of the causes and presentations of the mood disorders, and to improve and “tailor” treatment for the many Australians who suffer from these highly disabling illnesses.
Biomarkers To Aid Clinical Trials For Neurodegenerative Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$13,179,875.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease continue to affect more Australians every year, due to an ageing population and the lack of effective drugs currently available. Whilst these diseases present with different symptoms, we’ve discovered that they share a common underlying feature; the inability to clear certain metals and proteins from the brain. Our program aims to explore these clearance pathways in the brain and identify new targets to help us better diagnose and treat these diseases.
Disorders Of Sex Development: Genetics, Diagnosis, Informing Clinical Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,751,502.00
Summary
Disorders of sexual development (DSDs) are surprisingly common, and often result in genital abnormalities, gender mis-assignment, infertility and psychological trauma. We will pool our expertise in human genetics, molecular and developmental biology, to find genes important for sex development, identify gene defects that cause DSD, and study their functions. We will liaise with clinicians to apply these findings to the accurate diagnosis and medical care of DSD in children.