Immunology And Pathogenesis Of Malaria: Basic And Translational Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$727,685.00
Summary
Malaria is one of the most serious infectious diseases of humanity, killing 1-2 million children annually. In order to develop effective vaccines and interventions, it is important to understand both the causes of fatality and how to develop immunity to the disease. This application will continue a very strong international track record in malaria research ranging from basic lab-based molecular studies through to commercial development and population based health studies and policy formulation.
This project involves a unique interdisciplinary approach combining bioinformatics, biostatistics and mathematical biology to better understand the dynamics of infection and immunity. Using data from in vitro studies, animal models, and human infections, I aim to understand immune control and pathogen growth and evolution in HIV and malaria infection.
We will investigate malaria, a parasitic disease that kills over 600,000 people a year. We will explore how the parasite identifies, invades and remodels the host cells in which it lives, scavenging nutrients and hiding from the immune system. We will characterize the proteins involved in these critical events, as they are potential targets for drugs and vaccines. We will study how parasites cause disease and how the host responds to infection.
This fellowship is to support Professor Stephen Kent in generating new advances in vaccines to prevent HIV (the cause of AIDS) and Influenza (“The Flu”). HIV causes over 1.5 million deaths per year and no vaccine is currently available. Influenza causes around half a million deaths per year. Although the current Influenza vaccine is partially effective, improvements are needed for it to be able to protect against the many different strains of Influenza that can cause infection.
This project uses latest genomic technologies to advance our understanding of how bacteria cause disease and finding new antibiotics/approaches to stop the spread of multi-drug resistant hospital superbugs.
Prof Khachigian is a vascular cell and molecular biologist elucidating fundamental transcriptional mechanisms that lead to the inappropriate expression of harmful genes in vascular cells. Exploiting this science, I am also a “translational” researcher who has pioneered the development of novel strategies targeting key regulatory genes to combat angiogenesis-dependent cancers, and potentially other common vascular disorders such as post-angioplasty restenosis, bypass graft stenosis, ocular neovas ....Prof Khachigian is a vascular cell and molecular biologist elucidating fundamental transcriptional mechanisms that lead to the inappropriate expression of harmful genes in vascular cells. Exploiting this science, I am also a “translational” researcher who has pioneered the development of novel strategies targeting key regulatory genes to combat angiogenesis-dependent cancers, and potentially other common vascular disorders such as post-angioplasty restenosis, bypass graft stenosis, ocular neovascularisation and rheumatoid arthritis.Read moreRead less
Solving The Causes Of And Development Of New Therapies For Ankylosing Spondylitis And Related Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$863,910.00
Summary
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a highly heritable and common form of arthritis affecting primarily the spine and pelvis, and is the 2nd most common form of arthritis worldwide (~0.55%). In this fellowship I will extend my world-leading program of AS research by increasing understanding of its basic causes through research into its genetic and environmental triggers, and from this develop new treatments for this and related diseases such as psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Pathophysiology And Treatment Of Malaria In Our Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$951,005.00
Summary
Malaria continues to kill 420,000 people/year. I will lead a team of clinical scientists in identifying how each of the different malaria parasites cause damage to small blood vessels, kidneys and other organs, and will test whether two different drugs can improve these processes and reduce illness. Many of my previous research findings have changed malaria treatment in Australia and across SE Asia, and, where appropriate, I will use new research findings to improve treatments.
My research is directed to the prevention of type 1 diabetes, based on understanding immune-inflammatory mechanisms that contribute to dysfunction of insulin-secreting beta cells and tissue resistance to the action of insulin. I study these mechanisms in rodent models and in humans with the aim of manipulating them for therapeutic benefit. I am particularly interested in understanding environment-gene interactions mediated by epigenetic modifications.