Each year more than one million people in the US alone suffer serious nerve injury significantly impairing quality of life and costing more than US$7 billion. This research will develop nerve conduits based on polymers and the natural constituents of nerve to provide an alternative to the current practice of nerve grafting. It is envisaged that this conduit will provide an effective platform for nerve repair and will expedite the development of regenerative platforms for other neural tissues.
Role Of Macrophages Residing On The Bone Surface In Bone Renodelling And Repair
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$54,466.00
Summary
To determine if the F4-80+ macrophages that reside on the bone surface, bone lining macrophages (BLMs) are responsible for the detection of apoptotic osteocyte cells and subsequently initiate bone remodelling in response to bone damage.
Airway Epithelial Barrier Function, Asthma And Aero-allergen Sensitization.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$527,886.00
Summary
There is a strong association between allergy and asthma. This association been almost universally assumed to be causative. However, recent evidence suggests an alternative explanation ie., that the abnormal epithelium in asthma allows or facilitates sensitization to airborne allergens. This project will test this alternative hypothesis using human lung tissue and an animal model.
Repair Of Tooth Enamel/dentine By Biomimetic Mineralisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,107,069.00
Summary
Dental caries (tooth decay) and erosion involve loss of tooth mineral and are major public health problems. The project will involve the proof-of-concept testing of a prototype dental professional product MI Enamel/Dentine RepairTM to repair early stages of mineral loss non-invasively. This will result in the development of a system which should revolutionize dental practice globally for the non-invasive repair of early tooth decay and erosion lesions with a surface seal of tooth-like mineral.
Type 2 Immunity: A Regulator Of Physiology, Tissue Repair And Metabolism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Intestinal helminths (worms) have evolved together with humans and induce strong type 2 immune responses effective at eradicating the parasite, mediating tissue repair and modulating the gut microbiota. My research aims to decipher the roles of type 2 immunity in regulating intestinal health and promoting tissue repair. I also plan to determine how worm infection and type 2 immunity modulate the microbiota the impact of this on health, particularly obesity.