Conologues: Ultra-fast-acting Therapeutic Insulins Based On Cone Snail Venom Insulin Principles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,082,866.00
Summary
The increasing prevalence of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes demands better treatments. Our Project is based on a fascinating discovery by our international team of CIs of a new type of insulin within marine organisms that could form the basis of a novel diabetes therapeutic. Within our Project we will exploit this discovery to develop a new class of ultra-rapid-acting therapeutic insulins.
Targeting The Insulin And Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptors In Cancer, Diabetes And Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$993,251.00
Summary
Diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease are three major diseases facing Australia. This Project will investigate a common point-of-focus of these diseases, namely the interaction of insulin and the insulin-like growth factors with their receptor molecules on the cell surface. It will use recent breakthrough findings by the Chief Investigators to develop new therapeutic approaches for these diseases that could function by targeting these interactions.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Cognitive Bias Modification Training During Early Recovery From Alcohol Dependence
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,685.00
Summary
Relapse to alcohol dependence often occurs within days of detoxification, partly because alcohol-dependent people are easily triggered to approach alcohol-related cues. Computerised “brain-training” programs may reduce this “approach bias”, reducing risk of relapse. We aim to conduct a multi-site trial testing the effects of this training on alcohol relapse, and to estimate the savings to the health care system that could be achieved by conducting this treatment during inpatient detoxification.
Intervening In The Natural History Of Type 1 Diabetes: An Integrated Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$9,466,000.00
Summary
This Program brings together four of Australia’s top type 1 diabetes clinical and lab-based research teams. The program has three intersecting themes. The first theme, pathogenesis, focuses on early life and understanding why type 1 diabetes develops. The second theme, prevention, seeks to identifying new drugs to stop the disease from occurring. The third theme, treatment, aims to improve therapies to replace the cells that are destroyed during the disease process.
Structural Events In Insulin And IGF Signalling - A Nanodisc Approach To A Problem In Cancer, Diabetes And Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$752,403.00
Summary
Insulin and its insulin-like growth factors play a major role in three major disease states facing ageing Australians—diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. We aim to understand how these proteins send messages into cells via their so-called receptors. We will isolate the receptor molecules from cells and then image them in an advanced electron microscope to produce three-dimensional images. Our findings will have implications for the design of therapeutics targeting the above three diseases.
Understanding The Metabolic Consequences Of Impaired AMPKa2 And NNOS� In Skeletal Muscle: Implications For The Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,527.00
Summary
The inability of muscle to utilise sugar from the blood is a major problem that contributes to obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Since the number of people with these diseases will at least double by 2030, we need to find out what causes this problem. We will examine whether two muscle proteins that are impaired in obesity and Type 2 diabetes are also responsible for impaired sugar utilisation. We think that increasing these muscle proteins will fix the _sugar problem�, and remedy these diseases.
Targeting RCAN1 To Treat Type 2 Diabetes And Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,468.00
Summary
Obesity and impaired insulin secretion are significant contributors to Type 2 diabetes. In this project we demonstrate that a protein called RCAN1 contributes to both fat mass and insulin secretion and that this contribution is exacerbated in obesity and in Type 2 diabetes. We will identify how RCAN1 controls these major metabolic pathways with outcomes including the development of new therapeutics for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
This research proposal will identify changes in liver-secreted proteins during the development of fatty liver, and in the transition from fatty liver to the more advanced form of liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Understanding the differences in protein secretion between NASH patients and patients with normal/fatty liver will provide the opportunity to identify disease biomarkers that could be determined from a blood sample. This will provide a major shift in clinical care.
Sphingosine Kinase: A Target For Obesity-induced Insulin Resistance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,845.00
Summary
Insulin resistance, a characteristic of type 2 diabetes, is linked to abnormal metabolism of lipid (fat) in tissues such as liver and muscle. This project aims to identify a novel pathway which may promote a build up of lipids in liver and therefore leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. This work may provide a basis for understanding and optimizing treatment of insulin resistance by regulating the control of fat metabolism in liver.
Circuit Class Therapy For Rehabilitation Clients. A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial Of Therapy Intensity (CIRCIT).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,361.00
Summary
Loss of independence is common after stroke, and may lead to reduced quality of life and admission to nursing home care. We will investigate if an increased amount of rehabilitation following stroke leads to improved mobility. Two ways of delivering more intense rehabilitation will be compared with usual care to find out which leads to improved physical mobility, and how they compare economically. This will allow health service providers to optimise services and will benefit people with stroke.