Improving Treatment Strategies For Chronic Alphaviral Arthritic Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,624.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus and Ross River virus cause epidemics of acute and chronic arthritic disease in humans, which is often poorly managed with current treatments. This grant seeks to understand the mechanisms that give rise to disease in order to identify improved treatment strategies. Both the persistence of viral replication in joint tissues and unnecessary inflammatory responses appear to be important factors driving chronic disease.
The First Placebo-controlled Trial Of Opioid Analgesics For Acute Spinal Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,024,067.00
Summary
Despite the widespread and increasing use of opioid analgesics, there is a complete lack of evidence on their efficacy in acute spinal pain. Concerns are also being raised because of the risks of potentially serious adverse events associated with opioid analgesics. In this world-first study, we will establish whether using opioid analgesics can effective reduce pain in people with acute spinal pain and provide rigorous evidence to inform the safe and appropriate use of this medicine.
Deadly Commute - Targeting The Trafficking Mechanisms That Licence Inflammatory Cell Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,544.00
Summary
MLKL is a protein naturally found inside cells. MLKL is activated by inflammation. Once activated, MLKL relocates to the outer periphery of cells and kills them. Gut cells are especially vulnerable to death-by-MLKL and this problem causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Using cutting edge microscopy, we have discovered how MLKL moves to the periphery of cells prior to killing them. We will test if blocking this movement of MLKL to the cell periphery stops gut death and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Prevention Of Beta Cell Destruction In Type 1 Diabetes By Immunotherapy Using Parasite-derived Molecules.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$518,443.00
Summary
To prevent type 1 diabetes, compounds that avert the autoimmune destruction of beta cells are needed. We are exploiting the potential of ñworm therapyî by mimicking the beneficial immune effects of parasite worm infection. We have identified the molecules that the parasite uses to influence host immune responses. We have demonstrated that these novel immune-modulatory worm molecules prevent diabetes in a mouse model. This offers great potential for the development of therapeutic interventions.
Targeting Tumour-Stromal Interactions In Pancreatic Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,095.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer claims five Australian lives every day and is one of the nations most lethal diseases. Despite aggressive treatment regimes, there has been no improvement in patient survival in the last decade. Evidence suggests that targeting cancer cells alone is not enough. The intense stromal reaction inhibits drug delivery and increases the aggressiveness of the tumours. Thus, depletion of the stroma or pancreatic stellate cells is a potential therapeutic target.
Initial Interactions Of Herpes Simplex Virus With Innate Immune Cells In Human Skin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,589.00
Summary
Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 cause widespread and occasionally serious diseases including genital herpes, neonatal death and encephalitis. Current vaccine candidates are at best partially effective. This grant will examine the way that the virus enters, initially spreads within the skin and interacts with immune cells to help determine which cells should be stimulated by vaccines.
Elucidation Of Immune Mechanisms Underlying HSV Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$573,993.00
Summary
HSV-1 and -2 causes genital herpes, cold sores, encephalitis, potential fatal neonatal herpes, keratitis and blindness as well as severe disease in transplant patients. HSV infection also enhances the acquisition of HIV by 2-3 fold. Investigating the mechanism of immune response to HSV infection or components of HSV will assist in understanding immune control of HSV, HSV vaccine development, and assist in reducing in HIV spread.
A Novel Macrophage Lineage In Inflammation And Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,857.00
Summary
Macrophages are an important haematopoietic cell type that has been implicated in inflammatory and cancerous diseases. In our preliminary work we have discovered a new macrophage subset, termed the perivascular macrophage, in breast cancer. The aim of this proposal is to investigate the origin of these cells, and the role they play in breast cancer. This will tell us how we might be able to manipulate the functions of these cells in order to curtail breast cancer progression.
Deciphering How TCR Affinity Regulates CD4 T Cell Help In Immunity And Autoimmunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,885.00
Summary
Immune responses require the coordinated interaction and cross-talk between two types of white blood cells known as CD4 and CD8 T cells. A dysregulated interaction between these cells could be the cause of autoimmune and persistent infections by pathogens leading to chronic diseases. The aim of this proposal is to provide a deeper understanding of CD4/CD8 T cell interactions to improve immune outcomes in many chronic diseases in which interaction between these two immune cells is critical.