Dissecting Immune Responses To Salmonella Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,797.00
Summary
Successful treatment of Salmonella infections requires a detailed understanding how Salmonella growth is controlled. This project will examine the role of white blood cells, will reveal how they contribute to the control of Salmonella infections and will test novel treatment options. The outcome of this project will significantly advance our understanding of immune responses against Salmonella.
Development Of Dynamin Inhibitors As Novel Therapies For Epilepsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$903,376.00
Summary
Epilepsy affects 1% of people, but 30% do not respond to current anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Traditional drug discovery has not improved this situation. Our team discovered two exciting new targets for design of better AEDs. One of them blocks seizure in animals. Our aim is to determine how well they work in true animal models of epilepsy. If successful, this will accelerate development of new AEDs with less side-effects, benefiting large sectors of the Australian community.
Mechanisms Of Cell Death In Focal Cerebral Ischaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$229,624.00
Summary
Stroke most commonly results from interruption to a major artery in the brain. If not rapidly reversed the reduction in blood flow leads to the death of many cells in the brain tissue. There is currently considerable interest in developing treatments to be used in the early stages of stroke that can reduce cell death. As the extent of cell death is the major determinant of the long-term disabilities from stroke, such treatments are likely to provide considerable benenfits for affected individual ....Stroke most commonly results from interruption to a major artery in the brain. If not rapidly reversed the reduction in blood flow leads to the death of many cells in the brain tissue. There is currently considerable interest in developing treatments to be used in the early stages of stroke that can reduce cell death. As the extent of cell death is the major determinant of the long-term disabilities from stroke, such treatments are likely to provide considerable benenfits for affected individuals. Our study will investigate mechanisms underlying the death of brain cells in an animal model of stroke and in cells treated in culture. These studies will specifically focus on the role in cell death of alterations in mitochondria, a part of the cell that provides the energy needed for their normal function. The proposed investigations will identify molecular events that contribute to the mitochondrial dysfunction and examine the importance of these changes in brain tissue damage. The findings should contribute to the identication of new therapeutic approaches aimed at ameliorating the consequences of stroke.Read moreRead less
IRON IN DISEASES OF THE AGEING BRAIN: From Bench To Clinic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,814,215.00
Summary
I aim to achieve a deeper understanding of the causes, detection and treatment of incurable neurological diseases of advancing age - Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Motor Neuron Disease. Iron needlessly accumulates in brain tissue with age. I will pursue studies of ageing worms, cells in culture, mice, human brain tissue, brain imaging and clinical trials, to determine whether the problem of iron accumulation is a drug target for these diseases.