It has been proposed that inflammation plays a major role in prostate cancer risk. We are well placed to test this hypothesis following up evidence from our MCCS and RFPCS studies of associations between inflammatory markers and prostate cancer risk. This proposed project may open for the first time opportunities for the prevention of prostate cancer.
I am a molecular epidemiologist, studying the environmental and genetic causes of cancer, particularly endometrial and breast cancer. I am studying the molecular markers that act as signatures for the environmental and-or genetic aetiology of a given canc
DETECTION OF OCCULT DISSEMINATED TUMOUR CELLS AND TUMOUR DNA IN EARLY STAGE OPERABLE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,000.00
Summary
Most of the reduction in breast cancer death rate in recent years is due to earlier diagnosis because of mammographic screening. Even among women with very favorable tumours, at least 20% will die of breast cancer. The risk increases to over 50% in less favorable cases of operable early breast cancer. Current practice relies very heavily upon prognostic factors such as lymph node status and tumour size in determining the risk of subsequent failure and the need for therapy. There is a significant ....Most of the reduction in breast cancer death rate in recent years is due to earlier diagnosis because of mammographic screening. Even among women with very favorable tumours, at least 20% will die of breast cancer. The risk increases to over 50% in less favorable cases of operable early breast cancer. Current practice relies very heavily upon prognostic factors such as lymph node status and tumour size in determining the risk of subsequent failure and the need for therapy. There is a significant risk of under treating good prognosis disease patients (20%) and over treating women with intermediate and high risk disease (40%). The first aim of the study is to use novel molecular methodologies to detect breast cancer cells in the blood of patients with early stage breast cancer at diagnosis. The presence of tumour cells will be correlated with the usual prognostic factors used in the management of women with breast cancer. The patients will be followed long-term to clarify the relationship between disseminated tumour cells in the blood and bone marrow and eventual outcome to assess the effectiveness of these new methodologies in patient management. We will also assess new molecular methodologies which will allow us to track very low levels of disease, and thereby monitor the effectiveness of treatment, and allow prediction of impending relapse. Studying the blood of breast cancer patients represents a unique opportunity for determining whether the cancer has spread before surgery and for monitoring of disease after surgical removal of the tumour. This study may prove invaluable in predicting disease free and survival outcomes and provide a more rational approach to the use of chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer.Read moreRead less
High blood pressure affects 1 in 5 Australian adults and is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity from heart attack and stroke. The condition tends to run in families and genetic predisposition, in the face of environmental factors, leads to the elevation in blood pressure. My Lab has demonstrated the capacity of a cohort of affected hypertensive sibships we have collected to find loci for essential hypertension at a level that has achieved genome-wide statistical significance and has been ....High blood pressure affects 1 in 5 Australian adults and is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity from heart attack and stroke. The condition tends to run in families and genetic predisposition, in the face of environmental factors, leads to the elevation in blood pressure. My Lab has demonstrated the capacity of a cohort of affected hypertensive sibships we have collected to find loci for essential hypertension at a level that has achieved genome-wide statistical significance and has been published in a leading molecular genetics journal. Moreover, this previous work, which included fine-mapping after finding a suggestive locus following a scan of chromosome 1, not only demonstrated significant linkage, but also went on to compare gene markers between a different cohort of (unrelated) hypertensive subjects with 2 affected parents (and early-onset, moderate to severe hypertension) and control normotensive matched subjects with unaffected parents, to identify a likely candidate gene. This same approach will be used to complete the rest of the genome. The discovery of all of the genes for essential hypertension will be an important prelude to: (1) developing new, more effective treatments, since the gene products responsible will be able to be targetted by novel therapeutics, (2) genotyping individuals early in life in order to advise them what their risk is, and thus allow couselling about lifestyle modification, (3) more logically apply existing treatment strategies according to the volume-neural-vasoconstrctor component of the contribution to high blood pressure.Read moreRead less
Prognostic Markers Of Cardiovascular Risk In Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,132.00
Summary
One in three Australians are at risk of chronic kidney disease; however, these patients are more likely to die of heart disease. There is a need to identify markers in kidney failure patients to detect heart disease early. Unmasking cardiac risk factors by using change in cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters with exercise is novel. This will help the physician to diagnose _subclinical� cardiovascular dysfunction early, hence preventing cardiovascular mortality by institution of ap ....One in three Australians are at risk of chronic kidney disease; however, these patients are more likely to die of heart disease. There is a need to identify markers in kidney failure patients to detect heart disease early. Unmasking cardiac risk factors by using change in cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters with exercise is novel. This will help the physician to diagnose _subclinical� cardiovascular dysfunction early, hence preventing cardiovascular mortality by institution of appropriate therapies.Read moreRead less
The Genetic And Environmental Determinants Of Amyloid Deposition In Older Individuals: An Amyloid Imaging Study Using The Twin Design
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,267.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by the deposition of amyloid plaques in the brain. We don’t fully understand how amyloid deposition occurs and what contribution is made by genetic and environmental factors. Amyloid deposition in the brain can now be quantified during life using positron emission tomography. In this study, we will examine brain amyloid in twins, which will determine what proportion of the pathology is attributable to environmental factors that may be modifiable.
Stroke is a devastating disease affecting 50,000 Australians and over 5 million people globally every year. The overall aims are to develop better knowledge, better tools and more effective strategies to treat and prevent stroke. Projects include discovery of new genetic stroke risk factors, better management of recognised risk factors, trials of treatment strategies for acute stroke, and the investigation of strategies for more effective implementation of treatments.
Novel Molecular Markers Of Lung Cancer Risk And Survival
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$824,765.00
Summary
Lung cancer remains the most lethal cancer worldwide, yet little is known of the risk factors beyond that of tobacco smoking and certain occupational exposures. We have assembled a large international consortium comprising 24 cohort studies and over 10,000 to validate associations between B-vitamins and lung cancer risk particularly in never and former smokers. We propose to expand this study and use the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study and the rest of the consortium to identify novel biomar ....Lung cancer remains the most lethal cancer worldwide, yet little is known of the risk factors beyond that of tobacco smoking and certain occupational exposures. We have assembled a large international consortium comprising 24 cohort studies and over 10,000 to validate associations between B-vitamins and lung cancer risk particularly in never and former smokers. We propose to expand this study and use the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study and the rest of the consortium to identify novel biomarkers of risk and survival.Read moreRead less
Prenatal And Early Postnatal Risk Factors For Autism Spectrum Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$706,595.00
Summary
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a debilitating developmental disorder affecting around 1% of Australians. We will examine ASD-like traits in twin children, adults followed since early gestation, and siblings of children with ASD, to test the theories that ASD is associated with enhanced levels of prenatal testosterone and early brain overgrowth. We hope to identify early biological markers for ASD, which may promote earlier identification and intervention of affected children.
The LIPID Study: 16 Year Outcomes And Predictors Of Risk And Their Interactions In CHD Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$756,559.00
Summary
The single most common cause of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, is hardening of the arteries. This can largeley be prevented and this research seeks to expand our knowledge of new indicators of risk and their interaction with the traditional risk factors, such as smoking. With increased understanding, it is very possible that novel factors will be discovered which will lead to very important new treatments to prevent problems like heart attack in the future.