About one in eight known genetic disorders involve DNA alteration that activates a cellular quality control mechanism that disables the affected gene. This mechanism is more efficient in some individuals than others. It can influence disease outcomes and severity. We will engineer and apply tools and models to measure and manipulate this crucial cellular mechanism. This will allow us to predict disease severity as well as to intervene where a manipulation of this mechanism will be beneficial.
I am a molecular virologist researching the host response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with the aim of understanding how the liver clears HCV infection. An understanding of this process will hopefully lead to novel antiviral strategies to combat not only HCV but a broad range of other viral infections.
A Pragmatic Randomised Clinical Trial Of Nicotine Vaporisers Added To Smoking Cessation Treatment For Priority Populations Living With Comorbidities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,499,145.00
Summary
Smoking is a leading cause of early death for people with certain health conditions because they are more likely to smoke and are also at greater risk of tobacco-related disease. This clinical trial will test whether encouraging people living with Hepatitis C Virus, people on opiate substitution therapy and people living with HIV who smoke to use nicotine vaporisers long-term, in addition to current smoking cessation treatments, will help them to stay abstinent from smoking.
Imaging The Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle In Real-time
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$477,504.00
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious viral pathogen that causes significant liver disease. This proposal plans to examine how two proteins from the HCV, core and NS5A, interact with host proteins and pathways to facilitate viral replication and release of HCV; two processes that are poorly understood. Specifically we will tag viral proteins to allow us to investigate the HCV life cycle in living cells and determine the role of core and NS5A in facilitating HCV replication. This proposal may unco ....Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious viral pathogen that causes significant liver disease. This proposal plans to examine how two proteins from the HCV, core and NS5A, interact with host proteins and pathways to facilitate viral replication and release of HCV; two processes that are poorly understood. Specifically we will tag viral proteins to allow us to investigate the HCV life cycle in living cells and determine the role of core and NS5A in facilitating HCV replication. This proposal may uncover novel therapeutic strategies to combat HCV.Read moreRead less
Characterising Novel Alternative Splicing Networks That Promote Tumour Cell Plasticity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$609,329.00
Summary
During cancer progression, tumour cells can change their properties and become more aggressive and resistant to therapies. We have identified an important regulator of this tumour cell transition, called “Quaking”, which causes widespread changes in gene splicing. We aim to investigate how "Quaking" causes changes in gene splicing and what the effects of these splicing changes are in tumour cells.
The Role Of UPF3B And Nonsense Mediated MRNA Decay Surveillance In The Pathology Of Intellectual Disability.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$789,954.00
Summary
Proper functioning of the nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD or 'mRNA police') is crucial for any cell to ensure normal development and function. When NMD is compromised the outcome is learning and memory problems, autism or schizophrenia. Under this project we study malfunctioning NMD using stem and neuronal cells derived from patients' skin cells. Some of the affected genes might be considered for therapeutic interventions. NMD is relevant to 1000s of human disorders and as such it is of fundam ....Proper functioning of the nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD or 'mRNA police') is crucial for any cell to ensure normal development and function. When NMD is compromised the outcome is learning and memory problems, autism or schizophrenia. Under this project we study malfunctioning NMD using stem and neuronal cells derived from patients' skin cells. Some of the affected genes might be considered for therapeutic interventions. NMD is relevant to 1000s of human disorders and as such it is of fundamental importance.Read moreRead less
Hepatitis C affects a quarter of a million Australians, causing insidious but progressive liver disease which culminates in liver failure or cancer. There is no vaccine and prevention programs have limited effectiveness, but new antiviral therapies now offer high rates of cure. This Program will evaluate strategies to improve the health of those affected and prevent new infections by better understanding of the virus and the body’s immune response, including scarring and liver cancer formation.
Interventions To Improve Outcomes For Young Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People In Sexually Transmissible Infections Blood Borne Viruses And For People Using Methamphetamines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
This ECF will enable research to be carried out in the domains of sexually transmissible infections (STI) and blood borne viruses (BBV) and specifically methamphetamine (MA) use in Aboriginal communities nationally. Specific research outcomes will be the establishment of an Aboriginal primary health care and behavioural surveillance network for STIs/BBVs in nationally dispersed clinical hubs (CRE), and an improved understanding of interventions to address MA in Aboriginal communities.
An In Depth Analysis Of Clinical And Virological Outcomes Of 2 Strategies For The Antiretroviral Salvage Of First-line Regimen Virological Failure For HIV-1 Infection Tested In An Australian-led Randomised, International, Multi-centre Clinical Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,747.00
Summary
The recently completed Australian-led SECOND-LINE trial is the first high quality study to provide reliable evidence for policy recommendations for the composition of anti-HIV drug cocktails after standard initial treatment has failed. This award will support the researcher in further refining our understanding of how to manage second-line therapy including proposals to test the use of low-cost technologies for application in resource-limited settings where the majority of people with HIV live.