Prospective Methylation Biomarker Validation Study In Lung Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$528,281.00
Summary
Lung cancer is a major public health burden with increasing incidence every year. Despite advances, the biology of lung cancer associated with its recurrence either local or distant, with non-smoking lung cancer subtypes and asbestos-related lung cancer remains unexplored.
Identification And Erradication Of Pre-malignant B Cells In The Prevention Of Lymphoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,771.00
Summary
B Cell Lymphoma is the most frequent type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults and despite improved treatment, 40-50% of patients succumb to their disease. T cells are critical in the in the prevention B cell lymphoma development. In this project we aim to identify the earliest stages of B cell lymphoma and mechanisms of escape from T cell control with the ultimate aim to translate these findings to human studies to improve disease diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Establishment Of A Biomarker To Test Molecular Risk Of Gastric Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$834,448.00
Summary
Less than 20% of patients live 5 years after a diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC). This is due to the advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. We have no markers to monitor therapy of cancer. This proposal aims to use next generation sequencing to find specific genetic changes in a persons tumour that can be used to monitor therapy. We aim to use the same technology to group patients into high-risk or low risk for development of GC. This will allow specific screening only for those at high-risk.
Modelling Epigenomic Change During Early Breast Carcinogenesis Using In Vitro And In Vivo Model Systems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,360.00
Summary
Epigenetics describes how genes can be turned on and off without a change in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes are common and often occur early in cancer, but we do not know where or how epigenetic changes occur in cancer. In this proposal we will create the first detailed map of the epigenetic landscape of normal and cancer breast cells. These maps will allow us to predict where epigenetic lesions occur in breast cancer, which will have important diagnostic and therapeutic value for cancer t ....Epigenetics describes how genes can be turned on and off without a change in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes are common and often occur early in cancer, but we do not know where or how epigenetic changes occur in cancer. In this proposal we will create the first detailed map of the epigenetic landscape of normal and cancer breast cells. These maps will allow us to predict where epigenetic lesions occur in breast cancer, which will have important diagnostic and therapeutic value for cancer treatments.Read moreRead less
Enterovirus, Vitamin D Status And Inflammation At The Clinical Onset Of Type 1 Diabetes In Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,542.00
Summary
Type 1 diabetes is a serious disease that is increasing in incidence among Australian children. This project will build on an exsisting study to provide new information on the role of enteroviral infection, vitamin D status and the associated inflammatory changes in blood at the onset of disease.
Identification And Characterisation Of Genes Causing Autosomal Dominant Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (ADNFLE) And Related Phenotypes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,640.00
Summary
Epilepsy affects approximately 2% of the population at some stage of their lives. We have recently identified two new genes involved in the development of a type of epilepsy known as ADNFLE. We aim to identify further epilepsy genes by sequencing ADNFLE patients who do not yet have identified mutations. We also aim to identify the genes interacting with the genes we have identified, increasing our understanding of the cellular networks involved in the development of epilepsy.
Targeting Activated Platelets: A Novel Innovative Approach For The Sensitive Detection And Therapeutic Targeting Of Various Cancers And Their Metastases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$948,447.00
Summary
Early detection and selective therapy is critical for the survival of patients with cancer. We have shown in pilot experiments that platelets accumulate at the site of tumours and thus provide the opportunity to diagnose and localise cancer and its metastases. Based on this and also newly developed biotechnological tools we aim to develop multiple innovative imaging technologies. Furthermore, we will develop novel tumour-targeted and thus tumour site-specific, side-effect poor cancer treatments.
Analysis Of Circulating Tumour DNA For Mutational Characterisation And Tracking Disease Progression In Multiple Myeloma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$908,676.00
Summary
Multiple myeloma is cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow and presents at multiple sites with dissimilar genetic information (GI) across these sites. Invasive biopsies of multiple sites are required to determine the GI. Cancer cells shed small amounts of DNA into the blood stream and this circulating DNA (ctDNA) contains GI from multiple cancer sites. This project will evaluate the utility of ctDNA to determine GI and to predict treatment response in MM patients.
An Olfactory 'stress Test' For The Early Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,450.00
Summary
Early detection of Alzheimer's disease will be especially important when treatments become available that can slow or halt the progress of the disease. The sense of smell (olfaction) is affected early in the evolution of Alzheimer's disease. We have introduced a simple, inexpensive modification to standard testing of olfaction that we believe may help identify individuals with very early stage Alzheimer's disease. Our study is designed to assess this promising new approach.
Long Term Outcomes Of Infant Lung Function In Cystic Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,456.00
Summary
We have shown that babies with cystic fibrosis (CF) who are apparently well can still have lung problems. As lung disease is the major cause of death in CF we need ways to monitor the condition in babies, identify those at greatest risk of lung changes and predict which children should receive newer treatments. We have developed a unique program for the measurement of lung function in babies. We now aim to find out the long term consequences of lung function changes detected in infants with CF.