The Microenvironmental Drivers Of T Cell Regulation In Metastatic Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,302,611.00
Summary
COX2 inhibitors are drugs commonly used by cancer patients to relieve pain and inflammation. Using human breast cancer samples and mouse models of breast cancer, we show that pathways targeted by these drugs provide an immunological brake that prevents T cells being activated as strongly as they could be, and which has not been studied. This project is expected to yield important anti-cancer targets that could be used to develop a new class of cancer drugs.
Targeting The NLRP3 Inflammasome And Interleukin-18 In Hypertensive Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,241,115.00
Summary
Heart failure is a common complication of hypertension and a major cause of death and disability worldwide. This project will characterise a newly identified inflammatory pathway that we believe to be a major cause of the enlargement and scarring of the heart that accompanies hypertension. We will also trial drugs that block this inflammatory pathway to determine their suitability as future therapies for this devastating disease.
Influenza A Viral Infection And Pregnancy Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,346,858.00
Summary
Pregnant women who contract influenza are 5 times more likely to be hospitalised than the general population. Babies of mothers with influenza are also associated with increased perinatal mortality rates. We hypothesise that influenza infection in pregnancy significantly impairs the maternal vascular system resulting in maternal and foetal morbidity. Outcomes from this research may change current treatment modalities to improve maternal and foetal outcomes complicated by influenza infection.