Microtubule Cytoskeleton In Tumourigenesis And Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,885.00
Summary
Over one million cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year worldwide, making this the leading cause of cancer death. Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for more than 80% of lung cancer cases. We have identified a protein called ?III-tubulin that is often highly expressed in aggressive and drug resistant NSCLC, and is involved in tumour formation. We will examine how ?III-tubulin is working and identify ways to target this protein to stop tumour growth.
Identifying Early Molecular Changes Underlying Familial Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$755,793.00
Summary
Analysis of our unique genetic model of inherited, familial Alzheimer’s disease (fAD) using advanced molecular, computational and behavioural techniques is revealing dramatic, early changes in brain function long before the disease would occur. We will expand our work to compare our first model with a model of the most common fAD mutation E280A “Paisa” from Columbia. Commonalities between the models will help us identify the initial stresses that cause Alzheimer’s disease.
Development And Application Of A Mendelian Randomization Framework Aimed At Dissecting The Biological Basis Of Ankylosing Spondylitis And Other Complex Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$279,666.00
Summary
Our aim is to identify genes and biological molecules that cause a type of autoimmune arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis. Our approach involves finding combinations of genes that are related to biological molecules of interest and then testing to see whether the gene combination is also related to risk of disease. We hope that our strategy will lead to new drug treatments targeting the condition.
Novel Antifungal Strategies Using Drug Response Networks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$484,420.00
Summary
Fungal cells are quite similar to our own making it hard to find good drug targets. This project aims to enhance current antifungal drugs with agents that interfere with iron, which is needed for fungal growth. We will see how fungal cells change the genes they use when they are treated with drugs alone and combined with molecules that mop up iron. We will then track the pathways within cells that are targets of the affected genes, and find points where these pathways can be blocked.
Muir Torre Syndrome: The Role Of IHC And Genotyping In Sebaceous Neoplasia To Facilitate Prevention Strategies In Colorectal And Endometrial Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$396,786.00
Summary
Sebaceous neoplasia (SN), may be an early warning sign for Lynch syndrome (LS), an inherited cancer predisposition caused by mutations in a group of genes. There are high lifetime risks of bowel and uterine cancer, for which there are effective risk management plans if the risk is known. Clinicians are challenged by the role of SN in identifying LS. At present, it is hard to differentiate. We aim to determine features to improve the diagnosis of LS carriers.
Influence Of Skin Cancer On Topical Elongate Microparticle Drug Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,589.00
Summary
This project builds on a novel cutaneous delivery method using ‘rod-shaped’ microparticles we developed in the Dermatology Research Centre. Microparticle administration results in multiple punctures of the skin’s tough outer layers, increasing permeability. Furthermore, microparticle administration results in a uniform and continuous drug delivery profile within the treatment area, which is an important attribute for the treatment of skin diseases.
Improving Treatment Of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Suppressing Cell Division Cycle Associated Protein 3 (CDCA3)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$194,446.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This project will establish the worth of suppressing the molecule ‘cell division cycle associated protein 3’ (CDCA3) in lung cancer. To do so, we will adjust the levels of CDCA3 in animal lung cancer models and treat the tumours with chemotherapy and the novel drug CX-4945. We expect that reduced levels of CDCA3 combined with CX-4945 and/or chemotherapy in NSCLC patients will benefit patient outcome.
Expanding Diagnostic Approaches For Lynch Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,269,355.00
Summary
Currently, there are ~1,000 families who have attended Family Cancer Clinics across Australia who have the hallmarks of having Lynch syndrome, a hereditary bowel cancer syndrome, but who have no gene defect identified, i.e. their cancer is unexplained. Clinicians are challenged by these “Lynch-like” patients as their family cancer risk is unknown. Our research has identified new gene defects in Lynch-like patients. Our aim is to optimise clinical testing approaches for Lynch-like patients.
Tumours secrete factors which are contained in specific structures called exosomes, and are used to prepare other organs of the body for subsequently incoming tumour cells, thereby facilitating the often mortal spread of the cancer. This project will investigate the way exosomes alter organs before tumour cells arrive, the composition of these exosomes in lung cancer patients and if they are novel markers for diseases progression as well as therapeutic intervention.
Understanding The Early-life Pathways For Adult Type 2 Diabetes Using Existing Data From Seven Cohorts Of The International Childhood Cardiovascular Cohort (i3C) Consortium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,419.00
Summary
This project will allow us to determine the role that child factors play in the development of diabetes. We will do this using information that has been collected from individuals at several ages extending from childhood to adulthood, somewhat like the “Up” TV series. The project’s findings could lead to improvements in the way we identify people who are at risk of having adult diabetes. By doing so, we could begin programs to stop the young from being struck down by this debilitating disease.