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.
Understanding Sensitivity And Resistance To Trastuzumab And Lapatinib In HER2 Overexpressing Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$414,056.00
Summary
Previously, women diagnosed with a breast cancer that overexpressed the HER2 protein had a very high risk of dying. Trastuzumab, a treatment targeted at this protein, has been an extremely effective treatment. Currently there are new anti-HER2 drugs available, which will likely to be used in combination with trastuzumab. We will be investigating biological markers of resistance and sensitivity to these drugs and combinations in order to try and understand who needs which drug and/ or combination ....Previously, women diagnosed with a breast cancer that overexpressed the HER2 protein had a very high risk of dying. Trastuzumab, a treatment targeted at this protein, has been an extremely effective treatment. Currently there are new anti-HER2 drugs available, which will likely to be used in combination with trastuzumab. We will be investigating biological markers of resistance and sensitivity to these drugs and combinations in order to try and understand who needs which drug and/ or combinations.Read moreRead less
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.
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.
Genomic Medicine: Predictors Of Refractory Ulcerative Colitis And Its Response To Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$879,048.00
Summary
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a major form of inflammatory bowel disease, affecting over 35,000 Australians. Symptoms include bleeding from the anus, tummy pain, and diarrhoea. There is a 1 in 4 risk of needing major surgery for UC. Our study will use current genetic techniques to classify patients according to the severity of their colitis, and their response to treatments. This will allow clinicians to personalize medical treatment far more effectively from the outset of a patients’ disease.
Elf5 And The Basis For Antiestrogen Resistant Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,181,326.00
Summary
Resistance to anti estrogen therapies causes half of breast cancer deaths. We have recently discovered (Plos Biol 2012) that the transcription factor Elf5 is intimately involved in this process. This grant will develop our understanding of the transcriptional and genomic events involving Elf5 that lead to antiestrogen resistance and metatstasis, to develop new models of antiestrogen resistance, biomarkers that predict antiestrogen resistance and new therapeutic targets and strategies that preven ....Resistance to anti estrogen therapies causes half of breast cancer deaths. We have recently discovered (Plos Biol 2012) that the transcription factor Elf5 is intimately involved in this process. This grant will develop our understanding of the transcriptional and genomic events involving Elf5 that lead to antiestrogen resistance and metatstasis, to develop new models of antiestrogen resistance, biomarkers that predict antiestrogen resistance and new therapeutic targets and strategies that prevent antiestrogen resistance.Read moreRead less
Towards A Diagnostic Test For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$661,670.00
Summary
Childhood arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects around 6000 Australian children. It can be difficult to diagnose, but quick diagnosis is important to prevent ongoing pain and limit long term damage to joints. We have been able to use genetic information to predict which people have autoimmune celiac disease. In this project, we will find out how well genetic information can predict which children have childhood arthritis, and whether genetics can be used as a diagnostic test.
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.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome Related Thrombosis: Understanding The Disease Pathogenic Mechanisms Is The Key To Better Diagnosis And Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,497.00
Summary
Patients with the Antiphospholipid Syndrome develop thrombosis at a young age. It requires long-term treatment with blood thinning medications, which have risks of severe bleeding. Methods are needed to decide which patients require long term treatment, avoiding unnecessary treatment in low risk patients. Such methods do not currently exist. In this study we explore how useful two novel assays developed by us are in identifying which of these patients are at high risk of thrombosis.
Waxing And Waning Of Asthma During Transition From The Teens To Adulthood: Identification Of Immunophenotypic Markers To Predict Disease Trajectory And Guide Development Of Treatment Strategies To Prevent Progression To Chronicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$736,166.00
Summary
The project will seek to identify biomarkers in teenage/young adult asthmatics that can distinguish between those who are "growing out" of the disease, versus those who are progressing towards chronic severe asthma. This knowledge will inform the development of more effective treatment programs for this age group.