Cellular Regulation Of Receptor Signalling And Cytokine Responses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$859,288.00
Summary
Cell surface receptors and signalling pathways elicit the release of cytokines, or chemical messengers, to control inflammation, which is the body’s response to infection or danger. We have discovered a new signalling pathway that can turn off inflammation and help prevent inflammatory disease. Our studies will now define the molecular details of this pathway and show how new and existing drugs targeting this pathway can be optimally used to treat inflammation and cancer.
Why Is The Hijacking Of A Human Erythrocyte Signalling Pathway Essential For Malaria Infection?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,890.00
Summary
Malaria drug resistance is spreading and the world needs cost-effective new drugs. We found 2 human enzymes, known targets of cancer chemotherapy, to be key for parasite survival in red blood cells. We aim to understand why these human proteins are crucial for the parasite and to identify new human proteins hijacked by malaria. This will open exciting options for antimalarial drug discovery: to harness funds invested in cancer drugs by targeting proteins with dual roles in cancer and malaria.
Sphingosine Kinase As A Target For Anti-cancer Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$590,785.00
Summary
Sphingosine kinase is a protein involved in the development and progression of numerous types of solid tumors and leukaemias. We have recently made a major break-through by identifing how the cancer-inducing activity of sphingosine kinase is controlled. In this study we will target these control mechanisms to develop potential new anti-cancer therapies.
Investigation Of The Role Of PI3-kinase In The Regulation Of Angiogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$837,660.00
Summary
The formation of blood vessels is critical for the development of embryos, but also after birth in processes such as wound healing. However, the uncontrolled formation of new blood vessels is also a feature of many human diseases such as cancer, and eye diseases that lead to blindness in adults or in premature infants. We propose to identify new regulators of blood vessel development, in order to improve current treatment therapies for these debilitating diseases.
Location, Location, Location: Sub-cellular Specific Targeting Of JNK As A Novel Therapy In Breast Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$633,755.00
Summary
The ‘triple negative’ breast cancer subtype is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, and unlike other subtypes, there are no drugs to specifically this subtype. While many potential drug targets have been identified, they cannot be utilised clinically because of other beneficial roles within the body. We are now deploying our innovative experimental platforms to specifically target the tumour promoting functions of a protein known as ‘JNK’, whilst retaining its beneficial functions.
New Insights Into Mechanisms That Coordinate Kinase Signalling And Molecular Motors In Mitosis: A Novel Role For The Protein Scaffold WD-repeat Protein 62 (WDR62).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$529,122.00
Summary
Proteins perform all functions within a cell. Commonly, different proteins are assembled into large complexes to carry out processes, such as cell division, with significant implications for human health. Scaffold proteins facilitate the proper assembly of large complexes but are a poorly understood protein class. We will perform molecular analysis of a newly discovered scaffold, WDR62, to define how it drives cell division and reveal how this can be exploited to develop new anti-cancer drugs.
Only recently has it emerged that our cells have a built-in backup mechanism that instructs cells to die in extreme cases, such as when viruses have hijacked a cell. A misfiring backup mechanism is thought to underlie a number of human diseases, including inflammatory disease. Our investigation will establish a starting point for the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs.
The cell is the building block of life. This proposal focusses on the surface of the cell, the plasma membrane, and specialised structures called caveolae that are an abundant feature of animal cells. Altered caveolae are a feature of many human disease conditions. In this proposal we will address the function of caveolae. We will test the idea that proteins are released from caveolae into the cell when cells are stressed forming a novel signalling pathway disrupted in disease.
The Characterization Of A Novel Pseudokinase Regulator Of Platelet Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,965.00
Summary
Mammalian cells contain a complex switchboard, which directs the cell to grow, die, multiply or move in response to external cues. When communication breaks down within the cell, diseases arise. Our studies are directed towards identifying the molecules that comprise the switchboard which directs blood cell formation. A detailed understanding of the regulators of blood cell formation will equip us with a sound starting point for designing drugs to ameliorate blood diseases.