Pre-clinical Development Of A Novel Second Generation Chemotherapeutic For Cancer Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$584,907.00
Summary
Cancer cells have a high iron requirement for DNA synthesis and many clinical trials have shown that iron chelators are effective anti-cancer drugs. Their potential to act as anti-tumour agents has been confirmed by the entrance of the iron chelator, Triapine, into widespread NCI clinical trials. In this NHMRC Development Grant, we will perform toxicological studies to enable clinical trials of our most potent and selective anti-cancer agent to commence.
Development Of A New Class Of Broad-Stage Antimalarial Agents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,037.00
Summary
In 2017, there were almost 220 million cases of malaria across 90 different countries, associated with 435,000 deaths, and with 65-70% of all malaria deaths tragically being children under the age of 5 years old. No significant progress in reducing global malaria cases has been made over the last 4 years and the need for new and better treatments remains dire. In this research and development plan, we will develop novel and safer drugs for the treatment of drug resistant malaria.
Peptide Therapeutics For The Treatment Of Autoimmune Diseases: Stability, Delivery And Disposition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,467.00
Summary
Autoimmune diseases affect around 120 million people worldwide. This project will progress the development of a peptide that suppresses disease-causing autoantigen-specific immune responses without affecting protective responses. Different routes of delivery for this peptide will be evaluated, as well as slow-release formulations that will extend its in vivo lifetime. The outcome will be a patient-friendly form of this therapeutic lead that can be taken forward to preclinical evaluation.
Development Of AD214 A Novel Anti-fibrotic Treatment For Advanced Age Related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,994.00
Summary
Age related macular degeneration remains the leading cause of blindness in this and other industrialised countries. Although treatment is available for an advanced form of the disease, many do not respond, or lose significant amounts of vision with long term treatment. This proposal will provide critical data for commericalizing a novel therapy called an i-body (AD214), that reduces vision loss in this disease by blocking the formation of scarring with reduced need for injections.
Monoclonal antibodies, such as the breast cancer therapeutic Herceptin, have revolutionised the treatment of cancer and inflammatory conditions. Will over $30 billion sales in 2011, they have also spawned a growing biotech industry. We have a generated a highly specific monoclonal antibody, which has shown efficacy in models of disease. This project will further advance and develop this monoclonal, allowing us to initiate clinical studies in patients.
Development Of A Humanised Antibody To MIC-1/GDF15 For Therapy Of Anorexia/cachexia Of Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,349.00
Summary
Severe starvation and weight loss (cachexia) is a complication that affects about one quarter of cancer patients. In many this is due to the cancer producing a powerfula appetite suppressive protein called MIC-1/GDF15. This weight loss can be prevented by blocking the protein with an antibody drug. We have already shown that we can treat mice in this way by using a mouse antibody. We now aim to engineer these antibodies by making them more human-like. This will allow us to treat weight loss in h ....Severe starvation and weight loss (cachexia) is a complication that affects about one quarter of cancer patients. In many this is due to the cancer producing a powerfula appetite suppressive protein called MIC-1/GDF15. This weight loss can be prevented by blocking the protein with an antibody drug. We have already shown that we can treat mice in this way by using a mouse antibody. We now aim to engineer these antibodies by making them more human-like. This will allow us to treat weight loss in human cancer patients.Read moreRead less
Novel Therapy For Enhancing Organ Maturation In Pre-term Babies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,323.00
Summary
This project is developing a factor to enhance organ maturation and repair that may provide a new therapy for premature babies and fetuses with birth defects. This exciting new finding allows for the development of treatments of underdeveloped organs, in particular the lungs of premature and growth restricted babies. We are also trialing this factor in unborn babies with defects to the kidneys and lungs of which there is currently no cure.
Sensitizing Tumours To Immunotherapy: Development Of An RNA-based Therapeutic For Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma That Targets The Immunosuppressive Tumour Microenvironment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$192,347.00
Summary
The blood vessels of tumours are highly abnormal resulting in leakiness and hypoxia within the microenvironment. These abnormalities contribute both to the pathology and also to resistance to treatment. We have developed a new drug that is able to inhibit vascular leak, better the response to therapies and improve disease outcome. This work will generate essential data for the development of this drug towards Clinical Trials through interaction with International Pharma.
Development Of A Safe Live Genetically Attenuated Blood Stage Malaria Vaccine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$822,191.00
Summary
Malaria presents an enormous global health problem, and also has a significant impact on social and economic development in countries where the disease is endemic. Our project will produce a live genetically-modified vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the form of malaria mostly deadly to humans. Our development plan will include the first ever clinical trials of a malaria vaccine of this kind and will look at vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Optimisation Of A Potent And Fast Acting Antimalarial Class That Is Orally Efficacious In Vivo
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$683,916.00
Summary
Malaria is a devastating disease that results in 600 000 deaths annually. Current therapeutics used to combat malaria have a limited duration of use in the clinic due to the onset of resistance. We have identified a highly active antimalarial series that we propose to further develop to meet the prerequisites required for partnership with the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) for progression into the clinic.