Alpha-2-Macroglobulin And The Transport And Uptake Of The Hormone, Hepcidin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,541.00
Summary
Hepcidin is a peptide hormone that is a major regulator of iron metabolism. It has been suggested that hepcidin is free in the blood. However, we recently identified that hepcidin binds with alpha-2-macroglobulin (a2-M) in the plasma and this increases the efficacy of this peptide. The demonstration that a2-M plays a role in hepcidin biology will lead to a better understanding of hepcidin physiology, the development of methods for its measurement and improved treatment of iron related diseases.
Novel Statistical Methods For Genetic Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,505.00
Summary
We are in the midst of a genomics revolution that is transforming epidemiology, medicine and drug discovery. However, the scarcity of sophisticated statistical techniques to deal with the complicated problems inherent in genetic investigations of complex diseases is currently the critical factor limiting the success of human gene discovery programs. Statistical genetic methodology is currently one of the fastest developing areas of epidemiology. In information-intensive' areas such as genetic ep ....We are in the midst of a genomics revolution that is transforming epidemiology, medicine and drug discovery. However, the scarcity of sophisticated statistical techniques to deal with the complicated problems inherent in genetic investigations of complex diseases is currently the critical factor limiting the success of human gene discovery programs. Statistical genetic methodology is currently one of the fastest developing areas of epidemiology. In information-intensive' areas such as genetic epidemiology, genomics, and proteomics, there is a high demand for data analysis and statistical skills. WA has some world class expertise in statistical science, both in academia and in industry. However, this expertise has not yet been applied in a system way to genetic data analysis. We propose to undertake advanced methodological research in statistical genetics and bioinformatics, to produce easy-to-use and accessible software tools and resources that allow methodological advances to be accessed by the Australian research community, and to apply our new methods and tools both to specific disease research and to the developing human genome epidemiology (HuGE) enterprise in WA. These new initiatives in methodological research will draw together a number of currently separate research strands and will provide new tools and resources that will allow applied Australian programs to improve the efficiency of their research into the causes of important. Methodological development in both bioinformatics and statistical genetics are recognized international areas of need.Read moreRead less