New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and manageme ....New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and management that can reduce risk and improve patient survival.Read moreRead less
Communication skills training for oncology health care professionals working with culturally and linguistically diverse patients. The project will develop and evaluate two novel training programs designed to equip health professionals to communicate with cancer patients from different cultures. It is expected that the programs will improve trainees’ ability to communicate in a culturally sensitive way.
Structural and pharmaceutical studies on a novel human protein, MIC-1. Cancer and obesity are two of the main health problems facing Australia, as reflected by the National Research Priority: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. This project will develop new diagnostic tools for early cancer detection and prognosis using the protein, MIC-1. MIC-1 is responsible for cachexia, a wasting disorder responsible for 25% of cancer deaths, which has no effective therapy. MIC-1 and antibodies neutrali ....Structural and pharmaceutical studies on a novel human protein, MIC-1. Cancer and obesity are two of the main health problems facing Australia, as reflected by the National Research Priority: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health. This project will develop new diagnostic tools for early cancer detection and prognosis using the protein, MIC-1. MIC-1 is responsible for cachexia, a wasting disorder responsible for 25% of cancer deaths, which has no effective therapy. MIC-1 and antibodies neutralising MIC-1 may provide therapeutic agents to control cancer cachexia and severe obesity. The project will optimise these molecules for therapeutic uses. These diagnostic and therapeutic tools will form the basis of a spin-off company for commercialisation. Read moreRead less
Radiolabelled MMP binding agents for the identification, quantification, and targeting of MMPs in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and tumours. Cancer and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) represent two of the major health challenges facing Australia because of the aging population. In order to address these challenges we need to develop methods for identifying tumours and CNS diseases using non-invasive technologies and at an early stage so that treatments can be applied when t ....Radiolabelled MMP binding agents for the identification, quantification, and targeting of MMPs in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and tumours. Cancer and diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) represent two of the major health challenges facing Australia because of the aging population. In order to address these challenges we need to develop methods for identifying tumours and CNS diseases using non-invasive technologies and at an early stage so that treatments can be applied when they are most likely to work. In this project, we are developing new radiolabelled compounds that will enable the imaging of tumours, tumour metastases and CNS diseases states.Read moreRead less
An Australian Program in Precision Flavour Physics. Particle physics is a breakthrough scientific endeavour, addressing fundamental questions about the nature of the laws that govern the Universe we live in. Through engaging in appropriately chosen collaborative experiments at the cutting edge of the field, Australian science can make leading contributions to a deepening understanding that flows from discoveries in this area. Excellent training of young Australian researchers, enhancement of pub ....An Australian Program in Precision Flavour Physics. Particle physics is a breakthrough scientific endeavour, addressing fundamental questions about the nature of the laws that govern the Universe we live in. Through engaging in appropriately chosen collaborative experiments at the cutting edge of the field, Australian science can make leading contributions to a deepening understanding that flows from discoveries in this area. Excellent training of young Australian researchers, enhancement of public interest in science, and fostering of international cooperation and networking are all outcomes which this project will provide.Read moreRead less
Reducing The Greatest Uncertainty In Radiotherapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,197.00
Summary
The weakest link in radiotherapy is defining treatment volumes (contouring). Lack of accuracy and consistency in clinical trial contouring has been shown to result in reduced patient outcomes. Manual review of contouring is resource intensive, expensive and for advanced treatments unachievable in a timely fashion. We will assess an automated approach to contouring assessment using 4 clinical trial datasets, changing practice for future studies and enabling consistent assessment in the clinic.
Optimising Radiation Therapy Delivery For Cancer Patients Using Daily Image Guidance To Maximize Cure And Reduce Normal Tissue Side Effects
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,968.00
Summary
When using radiotherapy to kill tumours, the radiation beams need to be targeted at the tumour, plus a margin of error around it to ensure that it receives sufficient dose despite uncertainties in its exact location relative to reference points used for beam alignment. Advanced statistical modelling techniques applied to data collected from patients will be used to determine the optimal margin width for individual patients to maximise cancer cure while minimising normal tissue side effects.
A programme to study quarkonium-like states at ATLAS. Particle physics, the study of the fundamental building blocks of matter, has pioneered the use of large collaborations --- hundreds of scientists working in dozens of countries --- to solve difficult research problems. Australian groups have contributed to several such experiments, studying cosmic rays, neutrinos, and broken symmetries, as well as developing ATLAS, a vast experiment dedicated to understanding the origin of mass. This projec ....A programme to study quarkonium-like states at ATLAS. Particle physics, the study of the fundamental building blocks of matter, has pioneered the use of large collaborations --- hundreds of scientists working in dozens of countries --- to solve difficult research problems. Australian groups have contributed to several such experiments, studying cosmic rays, neutrinos, and broken symmetries, as well as developing ATLAS, a vast experiment dedicated to understanding the origin of mass. This project seeks to use ATLAS for a new purpose: searching for exotic mesons. Our existing commitment to ATLAS provides an opportunity to develop this as a new avenue of fundamental research in this country.Read moreRead less
High Precision Silicon Pixel Detectors for High Energy Physics , Synchrotron and Medical Imaging Applications. Australia participates actively in the frontier field of high-energy particle physics to understand the fundamental building blocks of matter, their origins and interactions. This field excites the best minds in the scientific world and provides excellent training. To maintain our position in this field we must continue the development of the powerful instrumentation required for high- ....High Precision Silicon Pixel Detectors for High Energy Physics , Synchrotron and Medical Imaging Applications. Australia participates actively in the frontier field of high-energy particle physics to understand the fundamental building blocks of matter, their origins and interactions. This field excites the best minds in the scientific world and provides excellent training. To maintain our position in this field we must continue the development of the powerful instrumentation required for high-energy experiments. This project will satisfy that role. The application of particle detector expertise to state-of-the-art X-ray imaging detectors for the Australian Synchrotron and medical imaging is a perfect example of fundamental science tools applied to other fields. Australian Synchrotron experiments stand to gain much.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453432
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$257,250.00
Summary
Support for the Australian Experimental High Energy Physics Program. High energy particle physics studies the most fundamental constituents of matter. This microscopic frontier requires the highest energy and highest intensity particle accelerators. Through the Big Bang Model, high energy physics also sheds light on the development of the very early Universe. It is thus crucial for the understanding of nature at the very largest of scales as well as the very smallest.The ATLAS and Belle experime ....Support for the Australian Experimental High Energy Physics Program. High energy particle physics studies the most fundamental constituents of matter. This microscopic frontier requires the highest energy and highest intensity particle accelerators. Through the Big Bang Model, high energy physics also sheds light on the development of the very early Universe. It is thus crucial for the understanding of nature at the very largest of scales as well as the very smallest.The ATLAS and Belle experiments probe two of the most significant questions in fundamental physics: what is the origin of mass, and why do we live in a universe composed of matter rather than antimatter? This proposal seeks support to maintain access to the international high energy physics program in Europe and Japan.Read moreRead less