Improving Treatment Outcomes For Malignant Mesothelioma Patients Using Biomarkers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$795,262.00
Summary
The deadly asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma is continuing to kill tens of thousands of people each year. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. In this study we will use novel biomarkers to help the diagnosis of mesothelioma and potentially improve treatment options for patients.
Identification And Molecular Characterisation Of High-risk Premalignant Breast Lesions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,382.00
Summary
Understanding the full repertoire of genetic events that underlie the development of breast cancer may allow development of prevention strategies. This study will analyse genetic data of benign breast lesions that may be non-obligate precursors of breast cancer. Importantly, clinical management of these lesions is difficult. A reliable method of predicting the risk of progression to cancer would be a significant advance, with benefits to individual patients and also the health system.
Personalising Care In Operable Pancreas Cancer. GAP-T: A Study Of Imaging And Molecular Biomarkers To Guide Treatment Of Patients Receiving Preoperative Chemotherapy Followed By Surgery.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,345.00
Summary
We are studying ways to improve how we treat patients with pancreatic cancer. We will use a novel imaging tool, the PET scanner, to show where active cancer is and how quickly and how well a new drug combination (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel) is affecting the cancer. We will also study if measuring the expression of specific proteins (SPARC and hENT1) in the cancer affects the outcome and will allow us to determine ahead of time which patients will benefit most from the drugs.
Biomarkers For The Diagnosis Of Childhood TB: Validation In A High TB Prevalence Setting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$948,086.00
Summary
The WHO highlights the urgent need for new diagnostic tests to combat the global TB pandemic. Diagnosis of TB is particularly difficult in children. In our previous NHMRC-funded Melbourne-based study we found promising diagnostic markers in blood which can differentiate patients with and without TB. This project has the potential to revolutionise the diagnosis of TB by providing data that will enable the development of a new generation of diagnostic tests.
Screening For Recently Defined Genetic Lesions In Poor Risk Adult And Childhood ALL, And Developing Treatment Approaches To Target Causative Pathways.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$744,938.00
Summary
Most adults and 20% of children with ALL relapse and die of their disease. Chromosomal changes resulting in the formation of new proteins have been recently identified in a significant number of cases. Importantly, drugs targeting these proteins are in clinical practice for other diseases. We will develop new tests to rapidly identify these patients at diagnosis, and assess the efficacy of adding these drugs to first line treatment in a clinical trial. The outcome for these patients will likely ....Most adults and 20% of children with ALL relapse and die of their disease. Chromosomal changes resulting in the formation of new proteins have been recently identified in a significant number of cases. Importantly, drugs targeting these proteins are in clinical practice for other diseases. We will develop new tests to rapidly identify these patients at diagnosis, and assess the efficacy of adding these drugs to first line treatment in a clinical trial. The outcome for these patients will likely improve significantly using this approachRead moreRead less
Forecasting The Impact Of Climate Change On Dengue Transmission
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$506,432.00
Summary
Dengue fever (DF) is the most important mosquito-transmitted viral disease in the world. The large-scale re-emergence of DF in the Asia-Pacific region during the past few decades has renewed its status as a serious international public health problem. Global climate change is anticipated to impact upon the biology and ecology of vectors and consequently the risk of DF transmission. The principal research aim of this study is to project the impact of future climate change on DF.
Personalised Medicine Markers Of Anti-EGFR Antibody Therapy In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Accelerating Clinical Translation With Collaborative Meta-analyses Based On Individual-participant Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,953.00
Summary
When selecting cancer therapy we take into account ‘biomarkers’, biological cancer characteristics that predict treatment success. We will work with an international group, the Advanced Colorectal Cancer Database, to analyse individual patient clinical trial data. We intend to validate biomarkers used to select treatment with cetuximab or panitumumab. Cancer genes called KRAS, NRAS, PTEN, PIK3CA, EREG and BRAF will be examined. Our study will provide best evidence for personalised treatment.
From Transcriptome Metanalysis To Targeted Therapies In Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,363.00
Summary
We identified a gene expression signature, a genetic fingerprint, that identifies patients who are affected by very aggressive forms of breast cancer. In this project, we will develop a clinically relevant test that can be used to guide treatment planning against aggressive types of breast cancer to improve survival rates. In addition we will validate new and novel targets for future drug development against these aggressive subtypes.
Bronchiectasis And Infection With The Human T-lymphotropic Virus 1 Among Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,674.00
Summary
The Indigenous people of Central Australia have the highest reported prevalence of bronchiectasis in the world. In a recent study, we found infection with Human T -cell Lymphotropic Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may contribute to the devlopment of bronchiectasis. The present study seeks to confirm this association and to determine whether increased HTLV-1 activity is associated with greater risk. This will require the development of assays that will improve diagnosis and assist in determining prognosis ....The Indigenous people of Central Australia have the highest reported prevalence of bronchiectasis in the world. In a recent study, we found infection with Human T -cell Lymphotropic Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may contribute to the devlopment of bronchiectasis. The present study seeks to confirm this association and to determine whether increased HTLV-1 activity is associated with greater risk. This will require the development of assays that will improve diagnosis and assist in determining prognosis of HTLV infection.Read moreRead less
Synthetic Lethality Screen Targeting A Defective Checkpoint In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,121.00
Summary
All cancers have defects in the mechanisms that regulate normal cell growth and division. These defects provide a growth advantage for the cancer, but can also be an Achilles Heel. In this project we will investigate targeting a defective control mechanism we found in a high proportion of melanomas. We will identify genes that when inhibited combine with the defective control to specifically kill tumour cells with this defect. Normal tissue is protected by its intact regulatory mechanism.